Order of Operations (PEMDAS) — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. What is the value of 5² - 4 × 3?
A) 63
B) 13
C) 37
D) 9
Exponent first: 5² = 25, then multiply 4 × 3 = 12, and subtract 25 - 12 = 13.
2. Evaluate: (8 - 5)² × 2
A) 6
B) 18
C) 12
D) 36
Parentheses first: (8 - 5) = 3, then exponent: 3² = 9, and multiply 9 × 2 = 18.
3. What is 3² + 2³ - 5?
A) 12
B) 22
C) 10
D) 14
Exponents first: 3² = 9 and 2³ = 8, then add and subtract left to right: 9 + 8 = 17, and 17 - 5 = 12.
4. Evaluate: 50 - (3 + 2)² × 2
A) 0
B) 10
C) 40
D) 25
Parentheses first: (3 + 2) = 5, then exponent: 5² = 25, multiply 25 × 2 = 50, and subtract 50 - 50 = 0.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. 2³ × 3 - 4 × 5 = 4.
Exponent first: 2³ = 8, then multiply both: 8 × 3 = 24 and 4 × 5 = 20, and subtract 24 - 20 = 4.
2. (9 - 6)² + 4 × 2 = 17.
Parentheses first: (9 - 6) = 3, then exponent: 3² = 9, multiply 4 × 2 = 8, and add 9 + 8 = 17.
3. 6² ÷ 4 + 3 × 3 = 18.
Exponent first: 6² = 36, then divide and multiply: 36 ÷ 4 = 9 and 3 × 3 = 9, then add 9 + 9 = 18.
4. (2 + 3)² - (4 + 1)² = 0.
Solve both parentheses: (2 + 3) = 5 and (4 + 1) = 5, then exponents: 5² = 25 and 5² = 25, so 25 - 25 = 0.
5. 10² ÷ (2 + 3) - 4 × 3 = 8.
Parentheses and exponent first: 10² = 100 and (2 + 3) = 5, then divide 100 ÷ 5 = 20, multiply 4 × 3 = 12, and subtract 20 - 12 = 8.