Grade 5Matheasy
Order of Operations
Order of Operations — Order of Operations worksheet for Grade 5.
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Apply the correct sequence 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 operations
- Solve 10 problems accurately by following the order of operations rule: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (left to right), then Addition and Subtraction (left to right)
- Explain why the order of operations matters by demonstrating how different operation sequences produce different answers
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Review the PEMDAS/BODMAS rule together as a warm-up. Write an example problem on the board like 2 + 3 × 4 and solve it together, explicitly stating which operation comes first and why.
- Step 2: Have your student work through the first 2-3 problems with you present, circling or underlining the operation that should be performed first in each expression before solving.
- Step 3: Ask your student to independently complete problems 4-7, reminding them to identify the first operation before calculating. Check these problems together to catch any pattern of errors early.
- Step 4: Have your student complete the remaining 3 problems independently as a formative assessment. Observe whether they're applying the order of operations correctly without prompting.
- Step 5: Review any missed problems together, asking your student to explain their thinking out loud. If errors occurred, identify whether the mistake was in operation choice or in calculation, and address accordingly.
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Emphasize the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS. Create a visual anchor chart and have students reference it for each problem. Many 5th graders rush through problems and skip the multiplication or division step before doing addition—remind them to work left to right within each operation level.
Address the common misconception that multiplication always comes before division (or addition before subtraction). Clarify that multiplication and division have equal priority and should be done left to right, as should addition and subtraction. Use concrete examples like 12 ÷ 2 × 3 to show this matters: doing division first gives 18, but doing multiplication first gives 2.
Have students underline or circle the operation they will perform first before solving. This physical step prevents careless errors and helps them slow down to think through the problem. For this worksheet's easy difficulty level, most problems should only require 2-3 steps, so this strategy is very manageable.
Practice saying the steps aloud together before writing answers. Verbalizing 'I need to multiply first, then add' helps cement the procedural thinking and catches errors before they're written down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need the order of operations? Can't we just solve problems left to right?
Great question! If everyone solved math problems differently, we'd get different answers for the same problem. The order of operations is a worldwide agreement that ensures everyone calculates the same expression and gets the same answer. For example, 2 + 3 × 4 solved left to right is 20, but using correct order of operations it's 14. Mathematicians need this rule so they can trust each other's work and communicate clearly.
My child keeps doing addition before multiplication. How do I help them remember?
This is very common at the 5th grade level! Try using a memory trick: 'Multiplication and Division are stronger operations, so they go first.' You can also have them physically point to or highlight the multiplication/division operations before touching any addition/subtraction. Repetition with immediate feedback is key—practice 3-4 mixed problems daily for a week, and the pattern will stick much faster than trying to drill it all at once.
What if there are multiple multiplications or divisions in one problem? Which do I do first?
Excellent follow-up question! When you have operations at the same level (like two multiplications or a multiplication and division), you work from left to right, just like reading. For example, in 12 ÷ 2 × 3, you divide first (getting 6), then multiply by 3 (getting 18). This worksheet focuses on easier problems, but understanding this left-to-right rule within operation levels is important for future math success.
Are parentheses always in the Grade 5 order of operations problems?
Not always—this worksheet may include some problems without parentheses to keep it at an easy difficulty level. However, understanding that parentheses come first is still important. When parentheses do appear, solve what's inside them before doing anything else. For this worksheet, focus on mastering multiplication and division before addition and subtraction, which is the most common challenge at this level.
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