California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Math Practice Exam

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Which of the following represents the correct order of operations in mathematics?

Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction
Parentheses, Addition, Division, Exponents
Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction
Exponents, Addition, Parentheses, Multiplication

The correct answer is: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction

The correct order of operations in mathematics is represented by the acronym PEMDAS, which stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), and Addition and Subtraction (from left to right). This means that any calculations within parentheses should be done first, followed by any exponentiation. Next, multiplication and division are performed in the order they appear from left to right, and lastly, addition and subtraction are carried out in the same left-to-right manner. In this correct answer, Parentheses are prioritized, followed by Exponents, and then both Multiplication and Division are grouped together, indicating that they should be handled next regardless of which operation comes first, as long as they are read from left to right. Finally, Addition and Subtraction are addressed after the previous operations. Other choices listed either misplace the order of operations or mix operations that should be handled together, demonstrating improper application of the order of operations in mathematical problems. It’s crucial to follow this correct structure to ensure accurate computation when solving equations.