Order of Operations

Which sum comes first?

An interactive lesson with 8 steps, about 7 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷ (left to right), then + and − (left to right).
• Multiplication and division have equal rank; so do addition and subtraction.
• A fraction bar groups its top and bottom; when in doubt, add brackets.

Steps

1. Two answers?
2. The agreed order
3. Left to right
4. Make 32
5. Powers come early
6. A minus sign and a square
7. The fraction bar is a bracket
8. The viral puzzle