How to Do Order of Operations (PEMDAS), Step by Step
When an expression has more than one operation, the order of operations tells you which to do first. The rule is remembered as PEMDAS (or BODMAS). Follow it and everyone gets the same answer; ignore it and the same expression can give two different results.
What PEMDAS means
- P — Parentheses (brackets) first
- E — Exponents (powers and roots)
- MD — Multiplication and Division, left to right
- AS — Addition and Subtraction, left to right
The key trick: M and D rank equally, and so do A and S. When operations tie, work left to right — don't always do multiplication before division, or addition before subtraction.
Worked example: 6 + 2 × (3 + 4)² ÷ 7
Exponents: 7² = 49 → 6 + 2 × 49 ÷ 7
Multiply / Divide (left to right): 2 × 49 = 98 → 6 + 98 ÷ 7
then 98 ÷ 7 = 14 → 6 + 14
Add / Subtract: 6 + 14 = 20
A common mistake
Take 10 − 4 + 2. Addition and subtraction tie, so go left to right: 10 − 4 = 6, then 6 + 2 = 8. Doing the addition first (4 + 2 = 6, then 10 − 6 = 4) gives the wrong answer. Same operation rank always means left to right.
PEMDAS vs BODMAS
They're the same rule. BODMAS uses Brackets, Orders (powers), Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction. The order of multiply/divide and add/subtract is identical — just remembered with different words.
Frequently asked questions
What does PEMDAS stand for?
Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (left to right), then Addition and Subtraction (left to right).
Is PEMDAS the same as BODMAS?
Yes — same rule, different wording. Both put brackets and powers first, then multiply/divide, then add/subtract.
Where can I practice with steps shown?
Type an expression into the free Order of Operations Calculator to watch it solved one step at a time.