6th Grade Math Textbook, Fundamentals

Think

Order of Operations

1.Grouping Symbols 2.Exponents

3.Multiply or divide from left to right. 4.Add or subtract from left to right.

Test-Taking Tips

• Underline important words.


• Restate the question.


• Apply appropriate rules,
  definitions, or properties.


• Analyze and eliminate
  answer choices.

Sample Test Item

Simplify the expression below.

(5 5)^2  2 5 • 3

A. 135

B. 35

C. 10

D. 5

Chapter 1 27

Test Prep: Multiple-Choice Questions

Strategy: Understand Distractors

Multiple-choice questions have one correct answer
choice and several incorrect answer choices called

. The incorrect answer choices are often
common errors. They are called distractors because
they are believable and can distract you from selecting
the correct answer.

Look at the sample test item.

Read the whole test item, including the answer choices.

• Underline important words.

Simplify the expression.

To simplifythe expression, use the order

of operations.

• Restate the question in your own words.
  What answer do you get when you simplify
  (5 5)^2  2 5 • 3?

Solve the problem.

• Apply appropriate rules, definitions, and properties.

Use the order of operations to simplify the expression.

(5 5)^2  2 5 • 3 Compute within parentheses.

102  2 5 • 3 Simplify the exponent.

100  2 5 • 3 Multiply or divide from left to right.

50  15 Subtract.

35

distractors

Choose the answer.

• Analyze and eliminate answer choices. Watch out for distractors.

A. 135

B. 35

C. 30 Did not follow the order of operations. Eliminate this choice.

D. 5 Did not simplify the exponent correctly. 10^2 was simplified as 20, not 100.

Eliminate this choice.

Did not follow the order of operations, just worked from left to right.

Eliminate this choice.

The exponent was simplified correctly and the order of operations was used.

This is the correct choice!