Arithmetic 8 min read

PEMDAS Order of Operations Explained With Step-by-Step Examples

Master the PEMDAS rule (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction) for arithmetic calculations. Avoid common math operator pitfalls.

BM Sanjay Samanta & Academic Review Board

Published August 11, 2026

Fact-Checked

Table of Contents

What Is PEMDAS?

PEMDAS is a mnemonic acronym used to remember the standard order of operations when evaluating multi-operator mathematical expressions.

The Standard Order of Operations

P (Parentheses & Brackets): Evaluate everything inside parentheses first.
E (Exponents & Roots): Calculate powers, square roots, and logarithms.
MD (Multiplication & Division): Perform from left to right as they appear.
AS (Addition & Subtraction): Perform from left to right as they appear.

Example Problem Walkthrough

Evaluate: 8 + 2 × (3² − 5)

Parentheses exponent: (9 − 5) = 4 → 8 + 2 × 4
Multiplication: 2 × 4 = 8 → 8 + 8
Addition: 8 + 8 = 16

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Reviewed by Applied Math Specialists • Editorial Policy

Updated: August 11, 2026

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