Order of operations worksheet

PEMDAS practice at three levels: multiplying before adding, then parentheses and division, then exponents and brackets. Every answer is a whole number, and there's an answer key.

Every problem has a whole-number answer. To save as PDF, choose “Save as PDF” in the print dialog.

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Order of operations

Name ____________________   Date __________   Score ______ / 20

Simplify each expression using the order of operations.

1. 2 + 3 × 8 =
2. 20 + 9 × 8 =
3. 9 × 6 − 11 =
4. 7 × 4 − 15 =
5. 2 + 7 × 2 =
6. 3 + 8 × 5 =
7. 6 × 5 − 6 =
8. 16 + 4 × 9 =
9. 9 × 6 − 18 =
10. 4 × 5 − 4 =
11. 8 × 9 − 8 =
12. 8 × 8 − 8 =
13. 17 + 8 × 6 =
14. 17 + 6 × 6 =
15. 18 + 8 × 4 =
16. 19 + 9 × 5 =
17. 17 + 2 × 3 =
18. 12 + 4 × 8 =
19. 6 × 4 − 3 =
20. 6 + 5 × 3 =

Answer key

  1. 2 + 3 × 8 → 26
  2. 20 + 9 × 8 → 92
  3. 9 × 6 − 11 → 43
  4. 7 × 4 − 15 → 13
  5. 2 + 7 × 2 → 16
  6. 3 + 8 × 5 → 43
  7. 6 × 5 − 6 → 24
  8. 16 + 4 × 9 → 52
  9. 9 × 6 − 18 → 36
  10. 4 × 5 − 4 → 16
  11. 8 × 9 − 8 → 64
  12. 8 × 8 − 8 → 56
  13. 17 + 8 × 6 → 65
  14. 17 + 6 × 6 → 53
  15. 18 + 8 × 4 → 50
  16. 19 + 9 × 5 → 64
  17. 17 + 2 × 3 → 23
  18. 12 + 4 × 8 → 44
  19. 6 × 4 − 3 → 21
  20. 6 + 5 × 3 → 21

Tips for using it

PEMDAS, with a catch

Parentheses, Exponents, then Multiplication and Division together from left to right, then Addition and Subtraction together from left to right. The left-to-right part is where most mistakes happen.

Underline the next step

Have students underline the operation they're doing next and rewrite the expression after each step.

Start easy

Easy problems only test multiplying before adding. Move to Medium once students stop working left to right.

Questions

What does PEMDAS stand for?

Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction. In some countries it's BODMAS or BIDMAS.

Is multiplication always before division?

No. Multiplication and division have the same rank; do whichever comes first from left to right. The same goes for addition and subtraction.

Is there an answer key?

Yes, on a separate page.

Is it free?

Yes, free and unlimited with no sign-up.

More free worksheets

For older students: turn a reading passage into a practice quiz or make vocabulary flashcards.