Mixed operations and operation laws
Follow brackets and operation order, and explain laws that preserve value.
Meaning
Calculate inside brackets first, then multiplication and division before addition and subtraction. Work from left to right among operations of equal priority. This order is a convention for reading the same expression consistently. Treat 3×4 as one amount to subtract from 18. Use brackets to specify a different grouping.
Example
Practice for this concept
Scope and references
Topics
Brackets, order of operations, commutative, associative, and distributive laws
Learning goal
Follow brackets and operation order, and explain laws that preserve value.
Helpful background
Check what brackets group together and what each operation means.
Order-of-operations practice
Does not separately ask for general explanations of operation laws.