Order of Operations Learning Strategies
What should students be able to do?
Students should be able to identify the correct order of operations.
Common mistakes made by students:
Not following the correct order of operations
Curriculum Connections:
 Please note all of the following correlations match outcomes in the new
Mathematics Kindergarten to Grade 9 Program of Studies (2007).
Grade 6 Number SO9: Explain and apply the order of operations, excluding exponents,
with and without technology (limited to whole numbers).
Grade 7 Number SO6: Demonstrate an understanding of addition and subtraction of
integers, concretely, pictorially and symbolically.
Grade 8 Number SO7: Demonstrate an understanding of multiplication and division of
integers, concretely, pictorially and symbolically.
Grade 9 Number SO1: Demonstrate an understanding of powers with integral bases
(excluding base 0) and whole number exponents by:
representing repeated multiplication, using powers
using patterns to show that a power with an exponent of zero is equal to one
solving problems involving powers.
Grade 9 Number SO4: Explain and apply the order of operations, including exponents,
with and without technology.
Assessment notes:
The questions in the print activity will refer to questions of 5 different difficulty levels
provided in the “Explore It” mode. Therefore, it is recommended that students use the
“Explore It” mode to check their solutions. Students will be asked to solve mathematical
expressions using the correct order of operations. If only a portion of the print activity is
sought for assessment purposes, or if you want to manipulate the questions, open the
activity in Word format instead of PDF and make the changes yourself.
Junior High Math Interactives
2006 Alberta Education (www.LearnAlberta.ca)
Number / Integers / Object Interactive / Learning Strategies
Page 1 of 3
Solutions to the Print Activity:
1.
a.
multiplication of 2 3
b.
multiplication of
c.
multiplication within the brackets of (10 3)
d.
division of 28
e.
exponent of 4 2 within the brackets
4 6
4
2.
No. The correct first operation to be completed is the multiplication of
3 9 .
3.
4.
Performing the division operation first is correct, but not the preferred choice
according to the order of operations. According to the order of operations, the
multiplication of 9 3 should be completed first.
The correct first operation should be the multiplication within the brackets of
( 2 6) . According to the order of operations, the term brackets refers to the
operation(s) within the brackets.
5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
63 3
60
6 3 8
18 8
10
24 12 3 2
2 3 2
2 6
4
20
10
10
50
52
2 10 4 2
10 4 2
40 2
2
33 9 (16 3)
33 9 13
27 9 13
3 13
16
Junior High Math Interactives
2006 Alberta Education (www.LearnAlberta.ca)
Number / Integers / Object Interactive / Learning Strategies
Page 2 of 3
6.
The student made calculation errors in steps 1 and 3. In step 1, the student
performed the operation of 3 2 incorrectly as 3 2 , obtaining the incorrect value
of 6. In step 3, the student performed the operation of 6 2 incorrectly as 6 2 ,
obtaining the incorrect value of 12.
7.
The student made calculation errors in steps 1 and 3. In step 1, the student
performed the operation of 5 2 incorrectly as 5 2 , obtaining the incorrect value
of 10. In step 3, the student performed the operation of 9 10 incorrectly as
10 9 , obtaining the incorrect value of 1.
8.
The student did not follow the order of operations for steps 1 and 2. In step 1, the
student incorrectly performed the multiplication of 10 2 , obtaining the incorrect
value of 20. In step 2, the student incorrectly performed the addition of 20 3 ,
obtaining the incorrect value of 23.
9.
The student did not follow the order of operations for step 2. In step 2, the
student incorrectly performed the subtraction of 22 7 , obtaining the incorrect
value of 15. Although the student did not follow the recommended order of
operations in step 3, the operation selected is correct and will ultimately provide
the same solution.
Junior High Math Interactives
2006 Alberta Education (www.LearnAlberta.ca)
Number / Integers / Object Interactive / Learning Strategies
Page 3 of 3