Free Printable Order of Operations Chart (PEMDAS)
An order of operations chart with PEMDAS steps, three worked examples and a reminder about left-to-right work. 1 version, free to print.
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Handout Hero · handouthero.com Handout Hero · handouthero.comAbout these order of operations handouts
The order of operations is the agreement that lets everyone get the same answer from the same expression. Parentheses come first, then exponents, then multiplication and division together from left to right, then addition and subtraction together from left to right.
The chart presents the four steps as numbered bands, with the first letter of each named in a colored tab. In the United States the order is called PEMDAS, and in some other countries BODMAS, and the page notes that both give identical results.
Three worked examples follow, each shown one step at a time with the rule applied at each line. The first has parentheses, an exponent, multiplication, addition and subtraction in one expression and comes to 56. The second shows why 24 ÷ 4 × 3 is 18. The third mixes parentheses with multiplication and division. Each line of each example was evaluated by program and confirmed to give the same value.
A box at the bottom addresses the most common error: students who think multiplication always comes before division. Because they share a step, work from left to right, and the same goes for addition and subtraction.
How to use them
- Print the chart for each student.
- Edit the title and add a student name and date.
- Read the four steps aloud and trace an example.
- Have students solve a new expression by writing one line per step.
Classroom tips
- Ask students to underline the operation they will do first in each line.
- Use two colors: one for parentheses and another for the rest.
- Have students check each other's work by looking only at the line before.
- Pose an expression with two answers on a calculator and talk about why they differ.
Where the facts come from
- OpenStax: Prealgebra 2e: standard definitions used for place value, rounding, order of operations, fractions, area, perimeter and volume
Last reviewed 2026-10-03. Handout Hero designs are original and made for this site. They are general reference material; check your own school, district or tradition where it matters.
Frequently asked questions
Does multiplication always come before division?
No. Multiplication and division share a step and are done in the order they appear, left to right. In 24 ÷ 4 × 3, divide first to get 6, then multiply to get 18.
What is the difference between PEMDAS and BODMAS?
They are two names for the same order: brackets, orders (exponents), division and multiplication, addition and subtraction. The letters differ, but the results are identical.
Why do we use parentheses?
Parentheses override the usual order. In (3 + 4) × 2, add first to get 7, then multiply to get 14. Without them, 3 + 4 × 2 equals 11.
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