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 problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
- Identify which operation to perform first in expressions containing two or more different types of operations
- Solve problems with parentheses and understand how parentheses change the order in which operations are performed
- Evaluate expressions with mixed operations and explain their reasoning for the sequence of steps taken
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Before your student begins, review the order of operations hierarchy together. Use a simple visual (like a pyramid or flowchart) showing: Parentheses first → Multiplication/Division (left to right) → Addition/Subtraction (left to right). Have your student point to each rule as they say it aloud.
- Step 2: Work through the first problem together as a model. Verbally walk through each step: 'First, do I see parentheses? No. Next, do I see multiplication or division? Yes—do that. Then, do I see addition or subtraction? Yes—do that last. Now write the answer.' This narration builds metacognitive awareness.
- Step 3: Have your student complete problems 2-4 independently while you observe. Pause after each to ask: 'What operation did you do first? Why?' This checks understanding rather than just correctness.
- Step 4: For problems 5-7, introduce slightly more complex expressions (perhaps with parentheses or three operations). Have your student write the step numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd) above each operation before solving to show their thinking.
- Step 5: Use problems 8-10 as an assessment. Your student should work independently. If errors occur, reference back to the specific rule they missed rather than just correcting the answer.
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Many Grade 4 students struggle with understanding that multiplication and division don't always go left-to-right—they have equal priority. Use real-world examples like 'If you have 12 cookies and divide them into 3 groups, then multiply by 2, you get 8 cookies, not a different answer if you did it the other way.' Work through the same problem both ways to show why order matters for addition/subtraction but multiplication/division are interchangeable in priority.
A common mistake is ignoring parentheses or treating them as decorative. Emphasize that parentheses are 'do this first' signals. Have students use a highlighter or circle parentheses before solving any problem. For example, in 2 + 3 × 4, students often calculate left-to-right as (2 + 3) × 4 = 20, when it should be 2 + (3 × 4) = 14. Practice several parentheses-free vs. parentheses problems side-by-side.
Use the mnemonic 'Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally' (PEMDAS) but ensure students understand it stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction. Clarify that M and D have equal priority (work left-to-right), and A and S have equal priority (work left-to-right). Create a visual anchor chart showing this hierarchy that stays visible during practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child keeps getting different answers when solving the same problem. Why does order matter in math?
Order matters because different operations affect numbers differently. For example, 10 - 3 + 2 = 9 (left to right), but if you did 10 - (3 + 2), you'd get 5. We follow the order of operations so that everyone solves the same problem the same way and gets the same answer. Think of it like a recipe—if you add sugar before mixing the dry ingredients, your cake won't turn out right!
When should my child use PEMDAS, and when can they ignore it?
PEMDAS is always the rule for solving math expressions correctly. Your child should use it every time they see a problem with mixed operations. The only time it 'feels' different is when a problem has only one type of operation (like only addition, or only multiplication)—then order doesn't matter. But it's safest to always follow PEMDAS to build the habit.
My child understands order of operations but makes careless mistakes. How can I help them slow down?
Encourage your child to physically mark or underline the operation they're doing first with a pencil or highlighter before solving. Have them write small numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd) above each operation to show the sequence. This slows them down intentionally and creates a visual record of their thinking, making errors easier to spot and fix.
Should my Grade 4 child know exponents for order of operations?
Most Grade 4 curricula don't require exponents in order of operations yet—that's typically a Grade 5 or 6 skill. If your worksheet includes exponents, they would come after parentheses but before multiplication and division. However, focus first on mastering parentheses and the four basic operations, as that's the Grade 4 standard.
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