Curriculum › Math ›Grade 4

Grade 4 Math · Level 2, Multiplication, Division & Factors

Order of Operations

How the lesson starts: Order of Operations

1. Rocket launch puzzle

   Three, two, one! Captain Zip and Pip are fueling the rocket. The fuel code is 3 + 4 × 5. Zip says 35. Pip says 23. Only one code launches the rocket! Let's find out who's right.

2. Times comes first

   Look at 3 + 4 × 5 as fuel cells. Here are 3 loose cells. Then 4 × 5 means 4 packs of 5 cells. That's 20 cells. 3 + 20 = 23. Pip is right! Multiply before you add.

3. Parentheses go first

   What if Zip writes (3 + 4) × 5? Parentheses mean do this first! 3 + 4 = 7. Then 7 × 5 = 35. Same numbers, different answer. The parentheses change the order!