1. Order of Operations &The Distributive Property
Course 2 1-9

2. Order of Operations
Order of Operations is the collection of rules about which procedures to perform first
The phrase Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally may help you remember the order.
Please P
Excuse E
My Dear M D
Aunt Sally A S

3. Please - Parentheses
First - Work within any grouping symbols (symbols of inclusion)
Including ( ), [ ], { }, | |, √,
Parentheses, brackets, braces, absolute value, square root, division bar

4. Excuse - Exponents Second – Exponents
We will get to these later. But if you had any you would simplify them after the grouping symbols

5. My Dear - Multiplication & Division
3rd – Multiplication and Division in order LEFT to RIGHT
After simplifying grouping symbols, then exponents, look at the expression
Start at the left do the first multiplication or division you come to
(if there is a division before a multiplication, do the division)
Keep going until you come to the next multiplication or division until you get to the end of the expression

6. Aunt Sally – Addition & Subtraction
4th – Addition and Subtracton in order LEFT to RIGHT
After simplifying grouping symbols, then exponents, then multiplication and division, look at the expression
Start at the left do the first addition or subtraction you come to
(if there is a subtraction before an addition, do the subtraction)
Keep going until you come to the next addition or subtraction until you get to the end of the expression

7. The Distributive Property
Arithmetic
9(4 + 5) = 9(4) + 9(5)
5(8 – 2) = 5(8) – 5(2)
Algebra
a(b + c) = a(b) + a(c)
a(b – c) = a(b) – a(c)