Grade 4

Order of operations

Brackets, then × and ÷, then + and −. Part of numbers to 10 000.

Order of operations

Brackets, then × and ÷, then + and − · Alberta Grade 4 · maddyhelps.com

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Underline the part to do first in each one, then work it out. Brackets first; then multiplying and dividing from left to right; then adding and subtracting from left to right.

3 + 4 × 2 =

(3 + 4) × 2 =

20 − 12 ÷ 4 =

18 ÷ (6 − 3) =

5 × 4 − 3 × 2 =

2 + 3 × (8 − 5) =

24 ÷ 4 × 2 =

10 − 4 + 3 =

Put brackets into 6 + 4 × 3 so that it equals 30

Why do 3 + 4 × 2 and (3 + 4) × 2 give different answers?

For the grown-up

Order of operations

11, 14, 17, 6, 14, 11, 12, 9. Brackets: (6 + 4) × 3 = 30. The first two differ because without brackets the multiplying is done first (3 + 8), and with them the adding is (7 × 2). The last two are the left-to-right rule: 24 ÷ 4 × 2 is 6 × 2, not 24 ÷ 8.

The last two expressions are where most mistakes happen. Multiplying does not come before dividing, and adding does not come before subtracting — each pair is done in the order it appears, from left to right.

Why this matters is on the numbers to 10 000 page. More sheets