Grade 4Mathmedium
Order of Operations
Order of Operations — Order of Operations worksheet for Grade 4.
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Apply the correct order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS) to solve multi-step arithmetic expressions containing parentheses, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction
- Identify which operation to perform first in expressions with mixed operations and explain why parentheses take priority
- Solve 10 medium-difficulty problems that require choosing between 2-3 different operations in the correct sequence
- Evaluate expressions with parentheses and multiple operations to demonstrate understanding that order matters in mathematics
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Review the PEMDAS rule with your student before starting. Write it out clearly and have them recite it aloud a few times so it becomes memorable.
- Step 2: Work through the first problem together as a model, identifying parentheses first (if present), then determining which operation comes next based on the order of operations rules.
- Step 3: Have your student solve problems 2-5 independently while you observe, pausing after each to check their work and ask them to explain which operation they did first and why.
- Step 4: For problems 6-10, gradually reduce your support. Ask your student to identify all the operations in the problem before starting and predict the order they'll solve them in.
- Step 5: Review any incorrect answers by working backward together—have your student show you each step they took and identify where the order of operations rule was missed or misapplied.
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Use the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) as a memory tool, but emphasize that Multiplication and Division are equal priority (left to right), as are Addition and Subtraction. Many fourth graders mistakenly think multiplication always comes before division.
Have students circle or underline parentheses first before solving anything else. A common error is students ignoring parentheses and solving left to right. Making parentheses visually prominent prevents this mistake.
When problems contain both multiplication/division or both addition/subtraction, explicitly teach students to work left to right. For example, in 12 ÷ 3 × 2, students often incorrectly do 3 × 2 first instead of reading left to right as (12 ÷ 3) × 2.
Encourage students to rewrite problems step-by-step, showing each operation as they go. This builds procedural fluency and creates a record you can check for errors. For instance: 2 + 3 × 4 becomes 2 + 12, then 14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't we just solve math problems from left to right like we read?
Order of operations is a mathematical rule that everyone agrees on so that everyone gets the same answer. If we just went left to right, different people might solve the same problem different ways and get different answers. For example, 2 + 3 × 4 done left to right would be 5 × 4 = 20, but the correct answer using order of operations is 2 + 12 = 14. Mathematicians created PEMDAS so the whole world solves problems the same way.
What should my child do if there are parentheses inside parentheses?
Work from the innermost parentheses outward. For example, in 5 + (2 × (3 + 1)), solve 3 + 1 first to get 4, then 2 × 4 to get 8, then 5 + 8 to get 13. At the Grade 4 medium difficulty level, problems shouldn't have nested parentheses, but if your child encounters this, treating it like Russian nesting dolls (work from the smallest/inside out) helps them understand.
My child solved 10 - 4 + 2 and got 4, but the answer is 8. What went wrong?
Your child likely subtracted left to right correctly (10 - 4 = 6) but then subtracted the 2 instead of adding it (6 - 2 = 4). This is a sign they need to slow down and read the operation sign carefully before each step. Remind them to point at each operation sign as they work through the problem: 10 - 4 + 2 becomes (10 - 4) + 2 = 6 + 2 = 8. Have them practice saying aloud what operation they're about to do.
Does multiplication always have to be done before division?
No! Multiplication and division have equal priority in the order of operations. When they appear together in a problem, you work from left to right. For example, in 12 ÷ 3 × 2, you divide first (12 ÷ 3 = 4) and then multiply (4 × 2 = 8). If you multiplied first, you'd get the wrong answer. This is a tricky concept for fourth graders, so practice problems with this pattern frequently.
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