6th Grade Math Textbook, Progress

Explore Order of Operations

with a Calculator

4-9

You can use a calculator to check your

computation when using the order of operations.

Evaluate the expression:

n^3 
(52)4, when n 6

Compute using paper and pencil:


Substitute the value of n^3 
(52) 4

the variable. 63 
(52) 4


Compute using the

order of operations.

Check your computation using a calculator.

Most scientific calculators automatically

follow the correct order of operations.

Input from left to right by pressing these keys:

display

For calculators that do not follow the correct order

of operations, check your calculations for each step.

1st – Add the numbers in parentheses.

2nd – Compute the exponent.

3rd – Multiply.

4th – Subtract.

The value of n^3 
(52)4, when n6, is 188.

63 
( 5  2 ) 4 1st – parentheses

63 
 7  4 2nd – exponents

216 
 7  4 3rd – multiply

216 
 28  188 4th – subtract

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