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Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Add, Subtract (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally)
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Solve anything inside a set of parentheses. In this example, we will begin with (1+3)/2. The first step to working in the parentheses is to simplify the numerator and make it one term. Once that is completed, the fraction will need to be simplified because it is still inside the set of parentheses.
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Simplify any term that contains an exponent. In this example, we will simplify 4^2.
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Simplify further using multiplication. In this example, we will be multiplying 10*2.
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Add or subtract any remaining terms. In this example, we will subtract 20-16.
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When solving using multiplication and division, the two are interchangeable in the acronym. By that, I mean division can come before multiplication in a problem. When one is solving and is left with multiplication and division, you work left to right. In this example, division comes before multiplication.
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The same goes for addition and subtraction. Even though addition comes before subtraction in the acronym, they are still interchangeable. When provided with both, you work left to right.
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Solve for x using the order of operations.
