Grade 4Mathmedium
Order of Operations Practice - Grade 4
Practice solving math expressions using the correct order of operations (PEMDAS) with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and parentheses.
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Apply the PEMDAS rule to solve multi-step expressions containing parentheses, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction
- Identify which operation to perform first in expressions with mixed operations when parentheses are present
- Solve expressions with multiplication and division from left to right before performing addition and subtraction
- Calculate the value of expressions containing parentheses by completing operations inside parentheses first
- Demonstrate understanding of order of operations by showing work step-by-step for each calculation
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Have your child read each expression and identify all the different operations present (parentheses, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction)
- Step 2: Ask them to circle or highlight the operation they should perform first according to PEMDAS before doing any calculations
- Step 3: Guide them to solve one operation at a time, rewriting the expression after each step to show their progress
- Step 4: Check their work by having them explain why they chose each operation in the order they did
- Step 5: For any incorrect answers, work backwards together to identify where the order of operations went wrong
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Use the acronym 'Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally' (PEMDAS) to help students remember the order, but emphasize that multiplication and division are equal in priority and work left to right, as are addition and subtraction
Watch for the common mistake where students work strictly left to right instead of following PEMDAS - have them circle or underline the operation they should do first before calculating
If students struggle with parentheses, have them rewrite the expression after solving what's in parentheses first, then tackle the remaining operations
Encourage students to work through one operation at a time and rewrite the expression after each step rather than trying to do multiple operations mentally
Frequently Asked Questions
My child keeps working from left to right instead of using PEMDAS. How can I help them break this habit?
This is very common! Have them physically cover up parts of the expression with their finger and only look at the operation they should do first. Practice with simple examples like 2 + 3 × 4, showing that the answer is 14, not 20. Use different colored pencils to mark each step in the correct order.
When there are both multiplication and division in the same problem, which comes first?
Multiplication and division have equal priority, so you work from left to right. For example, in 12 ÷ 3 × 2, you would divide 12 ÷ 3 = 4 first, then multiply 4 × 2 = 8. The same rule applies to addition and subtraction - they have equal priority and you work left to right.
How do I know if my 4th grader is ready for order of operations problems with parentheses?
Your child should be comfortable with basic multiplication and division facts, and understand that parentheses group numbers together. Start with simple expressions like (5 + 3) × 2 before moving to more complex ones. If they can solve what's in parentheses and then apply one more operation, they're ready for this worksheet.
Should my child memorize PEMDAS or understand why the order matters?
Both! While memorizing PEMDAS helps them remember the sequence, understanding why is crucial. Explain that mathematicians agreed on this order so everyone gets the same answer. Use real-world examples like 'buy 3 packs of 4 stickers and get 2 more' (3 × 4 + 2) to show why multiplication happens before addition.
What should I do if my child gets frustrated with the multi-step nature of these problems?
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