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Math Foundations

Day 4: Order of Operations

Slide 2

Today's Objectives

Slide 3

Warm-Up: A Math Puzzle

What is the answer to this problem?

5 + 2 x 3 = ?

Is it 21? Or is it 11?
Why can there be two different answers?

Slide 4

The Big Idea: Rules of the Road

Just like traffic laws prevent chaos on the road, the Order of Operations prevents chaos in math.

It's a set of rules everyone agrees to follow so we all get the same answer for the same problem.

The correct answer to 5 + 2 x 3 is 11.

Slide 5

Meet PEMDAS

We can remember the order with the acronym PEMDAS.

P - Parentheses (Do stuff in groups first)
E - Exponents (We'll learn these later)
M/D - Multiplication & Division (Partners - go left to right)
A/S - Addition & Subtraction (Partners - go left to right)
Slide 6

Think of it as Power Levels

Level 1 (Highest Power): Parentheses ( )

Solve anything inside grouping symbols first.

Level 2: Multiplication (x) & Division (÷)

These are partners. Solve them as you see them from left to right.

Level 3 (Lowest Power): Addition (+) & Subtraction (-)

These are also partners. Solve them last, from left to right.

Slide 7

Let's Solve Together

Problem: 20 - (3 + 1) x 4

1. Parentheses: (3 + 1) = 4

Problem becomes: 20 - 4 x 4

2. Multiplication: 4 x 4 = 16

Problem becomes: 20 - 16

3. Subtraction: 20 - 16 = 4

Final Answer: 4

Slide 8

Exit Ticket

Solve the following problem using the Order of Operations:

16 ÷ 4 + 2 x 5