Grade 7Matheasy
Order of Operations
Order of Operations — Order of Operations worksheet for Grade 7.
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Apply the correct sequence of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS) to solve multi-step arithmetic expressions without parentheses and exponents
- Distinguish between expressions requiring multiplication/division before addition/subtraction and identify which operations to perform first
- Solve 10 progressively structured problems that reinforce the hierarchy of operations for Grade 7 level mathematics
- 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 acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division left-to-right, Addition and Subtraction left-to-right) with your student. Since this is an easy-level worksheet, focus primarily on the MD and AS steps.
- Step 2: Work through the first problem together as a model. Have your student identify which operation should be done first, circle or underline it, then solve that part before moving to the next operation.
- Step 3: For problems 2-5, guide your student to independently identify the first operation before solving, but check their work after each problem to catch any left-to-right sequencing errors early.
- Step 4: Allow your student to work through problems 6-10 independently, reminding them to slow down and mark which operation comes first if they seem rushed.
- Step 5: Review the completed worksheet together, asking your student to explain why they chose to perform operations in that specific order for at least 2-3 problems. This verbalization reinforces understanding and reveals any conceptual gaps.
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Emphasize the 'left-to-right' rule for operations of equal priority: when a problem has only multiplication and division (or only addition and subtraction), students must work left to right, not right to left. This is a common mistake at this level.
Use the memory device PEMDAS strategically, but clarify that for Grade 7 easy problems, students will focus mainly on 'MD' (multiplication and division before AS for addition and subtraction). Write out the acronym vertically and cross off Parentheses and Exponents as reminders that those aren't in every problem.
Have students physically circle or underline the operation they will perform first before solving. This visual strategy prevents careless errors and reinforces the decision-making process behind order of operations.
Address the misconception that 'multiplication always comes before division'—explain that multiplication and division have equal priority and must be done left to right, just like addition and subtraction. Work through one example where division appears before multiplication to demonstrate this clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need the order of operations? Can't we just solve problems from left to right?
Without a standard order of operations, the same problem would have different answers depending on who solves it. For example, 2 + 3 × 4 could be 20 (if done left to right) or 14 (if multiplication is done first). Mathematicians agreed on one rule so everyone gets the same answer. The rule prioritizes multiplication and division over addition and subtraction because they represent larger-scale groupings of numbers.
When there are both multiplication and division in the same problem, which do I do first?
Multiplication and division have the same priority level, so you work from left to right. If you see 12 ÷ 3 × 2, you divide 12 by 3 first (getting 4), then multiply by 2 (getting 8). If you multiplied first, you'd get a different answer. Think of it like reading—you process what comes first as you move across the problem.
My student keeps getting subtraction wrong when there are multiple operations. What's happening?
A common mistake is subtracting from left to right without checking if multiplication or division needs to happen first. For example, in 10 - 2 × 3, students might subtract first (getting 8 × 3 = 24) when they should multiply first (2 × 3 = 6, then 10 - 6 = 4). Remind your student to scan the entire problem for multiplication or division BEFORE doing any addition or subtraction, even if the addition or subtraction appears first on the left.
Does the order of operations change when there are decimals or fractions in the problem?
No, the order of operations stays exactly the same whether you're working with whole numbers, decimals, or fractions. A Grade 7 easy-level worksheet typically uses whole numbers to build the foundational skill. Once students master order of operations with whole numbers, they can apply the same rules to more complex number types.
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