What this covers
Order of Operations is taught in Grade 5 (age 10 to 11) as a topic to introduce. It sits in the Number strand.
Worked example
Evaluate 18 - 3 × (2 + 4)
- Calculate inside the brackets first: 2 + 4 = 6
- Multiply: 3 × 6 = 18
- Subtract: 18 - 18 = 0
Answer: 0
Difficulty scale
The sheet generator offers five difficulty settings for this topic.
- Expressions with two operations using +, -, and × without brackets
- Expressions with brackets and basic four operations
- Expressions with multiple operations, brackets, and division
- Expressions incorporating exponents (powers) and square roots
- Complex expressions with nested brackets and fractional bars
Common mistakes
- Working strictly left to right regardless of operational hierarchy (e.g. 2 + 3 * 4 = 20)
- Believing addition must always precede subtraction rather than treating them with equal left-to-right priority
Curriculum links
Indicative matches to Common Core State Standards. Check wording and codes against the official document.
- 5.OA.A.1 Evaluate numerical expressions using parentheses, brackets, or braces and follow the order of operations.