order of operations
The order of operations is a set of rules that can be remembered through PEMDAS.
First, simplify anything that's in parentheses. Then perform the following operations in the order shown below from left to right:
1. Evaluate exponents and radicals in the function.
2. Do all the multiplication and division operations within the function. If there are fractions present, simplify the numerators and denominators separately, then attempt to simplify the fraction itself.
3. Do all addition and subtraction operations.
4. When all groupings have been simplified and removed, repeat steps 1-3 until the entire function is simplified completely.