The What's, Why's, and When's of Order of Operations

I. What is the Order of Operations?

Imagine driving your vehicle to go to work or school. Suddenly, you start hearing
a loud constant noise from the back side of
your vehicle. You park your car to the side of
the road to check what is happening and you
find out your vehicle has a flat tire. You must
get to work or school as soon as possible, so
there is no choice to wait for help. You decide
to change the flat tire. List the steps you must
take to change the flat tire of your vehicle.
Remember about safety!

List steps to change a flat tire:

a. Take out the spare tire and the jack.

b. Raise the jack until it is supporting, but not lifting the car.
c. Loosen the nuts.
d. Remove the hub cap.
e. Pump or crank the jack to lift the tire off the ground.
f. Remove the nuts the rest of the way.
g. Remove the tire.
h. Place the spare tire on the hub.
i. Lower the car to the ground.
j. Remove the jack.
k. Put the old tire in your trunk and take it to a mechanic.

This example illustrates the concept of order of operations. Explain in your own
words what the order of operations is.

The orders of operations are the steps needed for solving a problem. Any step done out of
order will result in creating another problem on top of another. The steps are guidance to make
problems and equations as simple and clear possible. The procedure steps explain what to do
next. The importance for following the order of operations is to result in the correct answers and
outcomes. The order of operations makes it easier to follow math.
 II. Why we need the Order of Operations?

Read the following comic strip:

Based on the comic strip, explain why we need the order of operations.

The reason why we need the order of operations is because in order to calculate any sort
of equation correctly we would need to take the correct steps one at a time. Even in the real
world, one mistake in trying to solve a problem can give you a wrong number. Equations can be
solved in many different ways. It is important that we be sure to choose the right one to match
the equations.
 III. When do we use Order of Operations?

Write an expression that simplifies to 3. Your expression must

contain exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, and at least one
set of parenthesis. Explain the process you would use to simplify the expression.
Use the Equation Editor to write and simplify the expression.

42+4÷11-1-13

42+4÷10-13

16+4÷10-13

16+40-13

16+0-13

16-13

The process I used to simplify this expression is PEMDAS theory. Using this process I
would first solve the P, the equation in the parenthesis. Then get rid of the exponent by squaring
the number. Next I would multiply or divide, depending on which comes first. Finally, I would
use the same concept for adding and subtracting as I did for multiplication and division.

Reference:

Image Source for flat tire - http://www.flickr.com/photos/apoptotic/1333823258/