This week the sixth grade students reviewed the order of operations. We introduces the acronym PEMDAS (Please, Excuse, My, Dear, Aunt, Sally). It stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply OR Divide, Add or Subtract. So far the student have only practiced problems with mixed up multiplication, division, addition, or subtraction (3 + 4 x 2) or 12 - 8 + 2). They are getting confused on problems that have division before multiplication. We are trying to tell the students to check for any multiplication or division first. If multiplication or division are in the problem, do which ever comes first. Be sure to finish up all multiplication and division problems before moving on to addition or subtraction. Again do which ever comes first.
In this problem for example:
24- 2 x 9 + 2
1. do 2 x 9 first =18
2. then 24 -18 = 6
3. lastly 6 + 2
The students should complete the problem working down and without equal signs. Please see math notes for clarification.
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