PEMDAS--order of operations

P= Parenthesis
E= Exponent
MD = Multiply and Divide
AS = Add and subtract

This is the order of operations.

Look at your mathematical expression and if you see any parenthesis (since it is the first item) work with that first. If there are no parentheses, look for exponents next. Continue down the list until you find the operation you need.

After you do anything to your expression, start at the top again. Check for P, then E, then MD, finally AS.

Here is an example:

(5 + 3 * 4 - 8)^(16/4)

Do we have parentheses? Yes. Let's pick one and look within it.

5 + 3 * 4 - 8 I'll look here first.

Is there a parenthesis? No.
Is there an exponent? No.
Is there multiplication or division? Yes. Let's do that.

5 + 12 - 8

Starting at the top again, but staying with this term in the first parenthesis.

Is there a parenthesis? No.
Is there an exponent? No.
Is there multiplication or division? No.
Is there addition or subtraction? Yes. Let's do that.

5 + 12 - 8 = 9

Ok, we are down to a single number let's put that in the place of the parenthesis we chose to start with.

(5 + 3 * 4 - 8)^(16/4) = 9^(16/4)

Now we start again.

Is there a parenthesis? Yes. Let's work on it now.

16/4

Is there a parenthesis? No.
Is there an exponent? No.
Is there multiplication or division? Yes. Let's do that.

16/4 = 4

Ok, we are down to a single number. Let's put that back into the problem.

9^(16/4) = 9^4

Starting again.

Is there a parenthesis? No.
Is there an exponent? Yes. Ok, let's do that.

9^4 = 9*9*9*9 = 6561

We are down to a single number so we are done.

(5 + 3 * 4 - 8)^(16/4) = 6561