Order of Operations and Numerical Expressions
Aligned to 5.OA.A.1 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
What this lesson teaches
When an expression has several operations, you do them in a set order so everyone gets the same answer: parentheses first, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. Parentheses let you change which part happens first.
Worked example
Evaluate 2 + 3 times 4. Multiply first: 3 times 4 is 12, then add 2 to get 14. But (2 + 3) times 4 equals 5 times 4, which is 20.
Practice questions
- Evaluate 6 + 2 times 5.
- Evaluate (6 + 2) times 5.
- Why do parentheses change the answer?
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Orden de operaciones y expresiones numéricas
Cuando una expresión tiene varias operaciones, las realizas en un orden establecido para que todos obtengan el mismo resultado: primero los paréntesis, luego la multiplicación y la división, y después la suma y la resta. Los paréntesis te permiten cambiar qué parte se resuelve primero.
Ejemplo: Evalúa 2 + 3 por 4. Primero multiplica: 3 por 4 es 12, luego suma 2 para obtener 14. Pero (2 + 3) por 4 es igual a 5 por 4, que es 20.
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