Order of operations Order of

operations

Let me see! 16 + 5 x 4? I know!

That’s 21 x 4. That’s 16 + 20!
That’s 84! That equals 36!

20 ÷ 5 - 1

I think that is
4 - 1, which of
course is 3! Easy!
That’s 20 ÷ 4.
It’s 5!

Who is correct?
Use the correct order to work operations and your answers will be correct.
Work these.
First: work grouping
1 a 15 + 7 π 3 = __________
symbols ( )
b 64 ÷ 8 + 12 = __________ Then π and ÷ left to right.
c 25 + 46 + 18 ÷ 3 = __________ Lastly
d 98 – 34 + 15 – 9 π 2 = __________ + and – left to right.
5 + (9 π 4) + 6 ÷ 2 – 4
e 100 – 32 + 8 – 4 π 16 = __________
5 + 36 + 3 – 4 = 40
f 7 π 25 + 1500 – 250 π 2 = __________

66 ACMNA134 Patterns and algebra • Explore the use of brackets and order of operations to write number sentences.

Order
Order of
of operations
operations Grouping symbols
are brackets. Brackets

There are two kinds.

1 a 7 + 6 π 3 = ________ b 24 ÷ 6 – 4 = ________
1 ( ) Brackets, ordinary
c 23 – 10 ÷ 2 = ________ d (3 + 8) π 6 = ________ brackets, round brackets
e 48 ÷ (18 – 12) = ________ f 16 ÷ 4 + 8 = ________ 2 [ ] Square brackets
g (4 + 7) π (13 – 8) = ________ h 17 – (2 + 3) = ________ Solve innermost set first.
2 Put in the brackets to make these true.
a 7 + 8 ÷ 3 = 5 b 19 – 6 + 2 = 11 c 6 π 4 + 2 = 36
d 18 ÷ 9 – 3 = 3 e 7 + 9 ÷ 4 = 4 f 18 ÷ 6 ÷ 3 = 9
3 Set these out to show the steps. Remember what
5 + 22 - 16
a 5 + 11 π 2 – 16 = ________________________ to do first?
= ________________________ Check on page 66.
b 16 ÷ 4 + (10 – 3) = ________________________
= ________________________
c 36 – [20 + 2 π 2] = ________________________
= ________________________
d (5 + 7) ÷ 3 + 8 = ________________________
= ________________________
e 9 π 7 – 30 ÷ 10 = ________________________ f [8 + (6 + 2)] π 8 = ________________________
= ________________________ = ________________________
g 24 ÷ 8 π 2 + 34 = ________________________ h 6 + 8 – 7 π 2 = ________________________
= ________________________ = ________________________
i [(50 + 60) ÷ 5] ÷ 2 = ________________________ j (9 + 3) π (18 – 15) = ________________________
= ________________________ = ________________________
4 Make up 4 examples for a friend to work out.
Make sure you know the answers.
a ______________________ = _____________________ b ______________________ = _____________________
= ___________ = ___________
c ______________________ = _____________________ d ______________________ = _____________________
= ___________ = ___________

5 Was that difficult? ___________ Explain your answer. ________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACMNA134 Patterns and algebra • Explore the use of brackets and order of operations to write number sentences. 67
 Order
Order of
of operations
operations Brackets

The same set of numbers can have a different outcome when expressed differently.
eg (62 – 15) π 2 = 94, 62 – (15 π 2) = 32

1 a 6 π 4 + 5 = ______ b 7 + 8 π 3 = ______ c 3 π (5 + 8) = ______

d 8 π 9 – 12 = ______ e 15 - 16 ÷ 4 = ______ f 24 ÷ (10 – 4) = ______
g (32 + 16) ÷ 8 = ______ h (5 + 3) π 6 + 2 = ______ i 15 – 15 ÷ 15 = ______
j (120 – 25) ÷ 5 = ______ k 7 π 2 π 2 + 16 = ______ l 12 + 4 π 9 – 10 = ______
m (3 π 4) + (7 π 6) = ______ n 10 – 36 ÷ 9 π 2 = ______ o 5 π 6 ÷ 3 + 18 = ______

Show working.
2 a (27 ÷ 3) π (3 + 6) = b 27 ÷ (3 π 3) + 6 = c 27 ÷ 3 π 3 + 6 =

______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________

d (36 – 4) π (3 π 2) + 8 = e (36 – 4) π 3 π (2 + 8) = f [(36 – 4) π 3] π 2 + 8 =

______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________

g 12 π (7 + 3 – 2) = h [(8 π 9 + 4) – 12] ÷ 4 = i (15 ÷ 15 π 2) – 2 =

______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________

3 Write and answer your own equations using 5 numbers and no brackets.

a ______________________________ b ______________________________ c ______________________________

4 Add brackets to make the same numbers come to a different answer.

a ______________________________ b ______________________________ c ______________________________

5 Add brackets in a different way to make different outcomes again.

a ______________________________ b ______________________________ c ______________________________

6 Add brackets to make these equations true.
a 32 + 5 π 2 = 4 π 3 + 4 b 16 – 8 + 8 π 4 = 17 + 3 + 5 π 4

Challenge! Choose 4 of these numbers. How many different equations can

you make with them?
5 3 8 2 0
6 4 1 9 10 12

68 ACMNA134 Patterns and algebra • Explore the use of brackets and order of operations to write number sentences.