The order of operations are easy to follow if you give a minute to think about it. Just remember P-E-M-D-A-S. Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally is what it stands for. It is in the order you have to do the problem.
The first is Please or Parenthesis. It means that you look at the math problem, and whatever is inside a parenthesis, you have to do. Like (4+3). You would have to do the problem, and you would get 7.
The second is Excuse, or exponents. You have to look at the exponents (the big floating number next to a number), and find the real big number. An example could be 12^2. You would multiply 12 by 12, and get 144.
The third is My or Multiply. You have to look at any multiplication and solve that. You would also have to do it if it looks like this: (12)3. The answer would be 36. The parenthesis sometimes is a sign to multiply.
The fourth is Dear or Division. If you see any division, then you have to divide.
Quick Fact: If there is division before multiplication, then you have to divide first. You have to always go right to left in multiplication and divison.
