PEMDAS — order of operations chart
The four steps of the order of operations on one printable poster, with worked examples. Remember it with “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.”
What PEMDAS means
- P — Parentheses: solve what's inside brackets first.
- E — Exponents: powers and roots.
- MD — Multiplication and Division, from left to right.
- AS — Addition and Subtraction, from left to right.
Multiplication does not always come before division, and addition does not always come before subtraction — they share a step and you work left to right. That is why 18 ÷ 3 × 2 = 12, not 3.
Worked examples
| Expression | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 3 + 4 × 2 | 11 | Multiply before adding: 4 × 2 = 8, then 3 + 8 |
| (3 + 4) × 2 | 14 | Parentheses first: 7 × 2 |
| 18 ÷ 3 × 2 | 12 | Left to right: 6 × 2 |
| 2 + 3² × 2 | 20 | Exponent first: 9 × 2 = 18, then + 2 |
More free printables: word search maker, cursive alphabet and coloring pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is PEMDAS the same as BODMAS?
Yes. BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction) is the UK name for the same rules.
What is 8 ÷ 2 × 4?
16. Division and multiplication share a step, so you go left to right: 8 ÷ 2 = 4, then 4 × 4 = 16.