Order of Operations

Which operation happens first, and why brackets and exponents override the usual left-to-right reading.

8 questions, free, marked as you go with a worked explanation on every one.

What this covers

The questions

  1. Evaluate: 3 + 4 × 2
  2. Evaluate: (3 + 4) × 2
  3. In 12 - 6 ÷ 2 + 1, which operation is carried out first?
  4. Evaluate: 20 ÷ 4 × 5
  5. Evaluate: 2 + 3²
  6. Which of these expressions equals 20?
  7. Evaluate: 15 - (2 + 3) × 2
  8. Evaluate: 6² ÷ 4 - 3

Answer these free