Algebra 1 Basic

Order of Operations Calculator

Type any arithmetic expression and see it solved step by step following PEMDAS — Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication & Division, then Addition & Subtraction. Every operation is highlighted as it happens.

Subject: Algebra 1
Level: Beginner
Supports: +, −, ×, ÷, ^, ( )
Enter Expression

Use × or *, ÷ or /, ^ for powers. Supports decimals and parentheses.

Try an example
Result
Enter an expression and click Evaluate to see the step-by-step solution.
Final Answer
0
Steps
0
Operations
0
Parens
Parentheses
Exponents
Mult / Div
Add / Sub
Step-by-Step Solution
What is PEMDAS?
P → E → M·D → A·S
P Parentheses
E Exponents
M Multiply
/
D Divide
← left to right
A Add
/
S Subtract
← left to right

PEMDAS tells you the order in which to perform operations so every mathematician gets the same answer. Without it, 2 + 3 × 4 could mean either 20 (wrong) or 14 (right).

Multiplication and Division share the same priority — work through them left to right. Same goes for Addition and Subtraction.

When in doubt, add extra parentheses to make the order crystal-clear — they never change the answer, only the readability.
Common Mistakes
8 ÷ 2(2 + 2) ≠ 1 → it = 16

Students often trip on these patterns:

  • Addition before multiplication — always do × and ÷ first, even if + comes first in the expression.
  • Ignoring left-to-right rule12 ÷ 4 × 3 is (12 ÷ 4) × 3 = 9, not 12 ÷ (4 × 3) = 1.
  • Forgetting exponents apply before ×2 × 3² is 2 × 9 = 18, not 6² = 36.
  • Distributing before evaluating parens — simplify inside parentheses first, then multiply.
  • Negative base vs. negated result-3² means -(3²) = -9, not (-3)² = 9.

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