Exploring Mathematical Reasoning of the Order of Operations: Rearranging the Procedural Component PEMDAS

Abstract

PEMDAS is a mnemonic device to memorize the order in which to calculate an expression that contains more than one operation. However, students frequently make calculation errors with expressions, which have either multiplication and division or addition and subtraction next to each other. This article explores the mathematical reasoning of the Order of Operations and the effectiveness of a new approach.