The Order of Basic Operations: Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication

In cases when the exercise contains several multiplications and divisions, we solve them in order from left to right.

There are more rules concerning the order of operations when the exercise contains parentheses and powers, which is is covered in the following article:
Order of operations with parentheses and powers

As we have learned, the last operations to perform are the additions and subtractions.

1. Parentheses
2. Powers and roots
3. Multiplication and division
4. Addition and subtraction

The order in which the operations are performed is the same even if combined operations with fractions appear. The addition and subtraction of fractions is the last operation to perform and is done in order from left to right.

Solve the following exercises using the order of operations:

$100-4+11-20=$

Solve from left to right.

The first part of the exercise is $100-4$, which is equal to $96$.

Next is $96+11$, which equals $107$.

The last part of the exercise is $107-20$, which is equal to $87$.

Therefore, the final result is: $87$.

$20-2-3-8=$

Solve from left to right.

The first part of the exercise is $20-2$, which is equal to $18$.

Then, if we solve $18-3$ we get $15$.

Finally, we solve the last part of the exercise: $15-8$ equals $7$.

Therefore, the final result is: $7$.

$10\cdot2:4=$

Solve from left to right.

First, we work out $10\cdot2$, which is equal to $20$.

The next part of the exercise is solving $20:4$, which is equal to $5$.

The final result is: $5$.

$90:3:2:5=$

Solve from left to right.

The first part of the exercise is solving $90:3$, which equals: $30$.

The next part of the exercise is solving $30:2$, which is equal to $15$.

Finally, we solve $15:5$, which equals $3$.

The final result is therefore: $3$.

$72:2-3:1=$

Solve from left to right (multiplication and division first, then addition and subtraction)

The multiplications and divisions of the exercise:

First, solve $72:2$, which is equal to $36$.

Then, the next part of the exercise is $3:1$, which is equal to $3$.

Giving us: $36-3$.

Now perform the additions and subtractions of the exercise:

Now we perform $36-3$, which is equal to $33$.

Finally, the last part of the exercise is $33:1$, which is equal to $33$.

Therefore, the final result is: $33$.

$300:3-20:2+3\cdot4-2-7\cdot3=$

Solve from left to right (multiplication and division first, then addition and subtraction)

The multiplications and divisions of the exercise:

The first part of the exercise is $300:3$, which equals $100$.

Then we solve $20:2$, which equals $10$.

Next, we calculate $3\cdot4$, which equals $12$.

Lastly, we solve $7\cdot3$, which equals $21$.

Giving us: $100-10+12-2-21=$.

The additions and subtractions of the exercise:

Then, we calculate $100-10$, which is equal to $90$.

The next part of the exercise is $90+12$, which is equal to $102$.

After that, we calculate $102-2$, which equals $100$.

The next part of the exercise is $100-21$, which equals $79$.

Finally, we calculate $100-21$, which equals $79$.

Therefore, the final result is: $79$

1. $90-2+9-8=$
2. $40-3-5-9=$
3. $10\cdot2:4=$
4. $80:4:2:5=$
5. $24:2:4-3:1=$
6. $5\cdot5\cdot2-12:4=$
7. $100:2-10:2+3\cdot4-6-5\cdot2=$

Solutions

After solving the practice exercises, check your answers:

1. R.$89$
2. R.$23$
3. R.$5$
4. R.$2$
5. R.$0$
6. R.$47$
7. R.$41$

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in the following articles:

• The order of operations
• Order of basic operations (powers)
• Order of basic operations: roots
• The 0 and the 1 in the order of operations
• Neutral elements / Neutral elements

On Tutorela , you can find a variety of useful articles about mathematics!

When we are asked to solve combined calculations where more than one operation appears, we must follow the order of operations. The order of operations dictates that we must must always perform multiplications first and then additions.

In general, when solving combined operations we must first solve the parentheses, then the powers and roots, then the multiplications and divisions, and finally the additions and subtractions.

In an operation without parentheses where addition and multiplication appear, we first solve the multiplications and then the additions.

When we have combined operations, we must first solve the parentheses before solving the powers and roots.

• Parentheses
• Powers and roots
• Left-to-right multiplication and division
• Addition and subtraction from left to right

The four basic operations are: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.