How Do You Simplify an Expression Using the Order of Operations?

Note:

You can't simplify an expression without fully understanding the order of operation! Follow along with this tutorial to see how to use the order of operations to simplify an expression.

Keywords:

problem
simplify
expression
order operations
whole numbers
addition
subtraction
division
multiplication

Background Tutorials

Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.
- How Do You Add Whole Numbers?
  
  To add numbers, you can line up the numbers vertically and then add the matching places together. This tutorial shows you how to add numbers vertically!
- How Do You Subtract Whole Numbers?
  
  Subtracting numbers is easier than you might think! Watch this tutorial to see the step-by-step process of lining up the numbers vertically to subtract them.
Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).
- What's the Order of Operations?
  
  Check out this tutorial where you'll see exactly what order you need to follow when you simplify expressions. You'll also see what happens when you don't follow these rules, and you'll find out why order of operations is so important!
Understand p + q as the number located a distance |q| from p, in the positive or negative direction depending on whether q is positive or negative. Show that a number and its opposite have a sum of 0 (are additive inverses). Interpret sums of rational numbers by describing real-world contexts.
- How Do You Add Integers Using a Number Line?
  
  Combining integers? You could use a number line to help find the answer! In this tutorial, see how to use a number line to add together integers with the same sign and ones with opposite signs. Take a look!