Order of Operations Introduction — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which expression equals 30?
A) (2+3)*6
B) 4+5*6
C) 20-2*5
D) (10-4)/2
Parentheses make (2+3)=5, and 5*6=30, matching the target value precisely.
2. Which expression matches 'add 6 and 4, then multiply by 5'?
A) 6+4*5
B) (6+4)*5
C) 6*(4+5)
D) 6+(4*5)
Parentheses force addition first, making (6+4)*5 the only correct expression for the story.
3. Where do parentheses go to make 8-3*2=10 true?
A) 8-(3*2)
B) 8-3*(2)
C) (8-3)*2
D) (8-3*2)
Placing parens around (8-3) gives 5*2=10, the true equation; other choices yield different values.
4. Which expression best models 'Jay has 4 boxes of 3 toys minus 2 broken'?
A) 4+3*2
B) (4-3)*2
C) 4*(3-2)
D) 4*3-2
Multiplication finds total toys before subtraction removes the broken ones, matching 4*3-2=10 perfectly.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Compute 2+3*4-1 = 13 following PEMDAS strictly.
Multiplying first yields 12, then sequential addition and subtraction produce the correct final value.
2. (6+2)*3-4 equals 20 when parens are evaluated first.
Parens elevate addition to top priority, so the rest of the expression follows in order.
3. Place parens in 4+6/2 to get 5: (4+6)/2.
Parentheses around (4+6) force addition first, making (4+6)/2 equal exactly five.
4. 20-(5+3)*2 = 4 after parens, multiplication, and subtraction.
Following PEMDAS strictly across multiple steps preserves the correct numerical outcome consistently.
5. (12/4+1)*3 equals 12 using order of operations.
Parentheses group division and addition, so multiplication acts on the finished inner value.