Parentheses identify a grouped quantity whose value must be determined before the surrounding operations, so the expression’s structure—not merely its left-to-right appearance—controls its evaluation. The learner evaluates grouped numerical expressions involving whole-number addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, applying multiplication or division before addition or subtraction when no grouping determines otherwise, and understands that different-looking expressions can have the same value. Variables, exponents, and more advanced generalized order-of-operations cases are not included.
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Detailed Explanation: Evaluate numerical expressions with parentheses
Parentheses show which quantity to find first. After evaluating the parentheses, use multiplication or division before addition or subtraction.
Evaluate:
Step 1: Evaluate the parentheses.
Now the expression is:
Step 2: Do division and multiplication.
Now the expression is:
Step 3: Add.
So,
The parentheses make a group, so it must be evaluated before the division. Don’t simply work from left to right without checking for parentheses and multiplication or division.
Learn by doing: Evaluate numerical expressions with parentheses
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Practice:
Order of Operations - Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide with Parentheses (5 Numbers)
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Download/Modify Free Grade 5 'Evaluate numerical expressions with parentheses' Worksheet
Print this free 'Evaluate numerical expressions with parentheses' worksheet to practice this skill away from the computer. Click 'Modify' to easily customize this worksheet to your exact needs.
This Worksheet Includes:
- Order of Operations - Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide with Parentheses (5 Numbers)
- Order of Operations - Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide with Parentheses (4 Numbers)
- Order of Operations - Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide with Parentheses (3 Numbers)
- Order of Operations - Add, Subtract, Multiply with Parentheses (5 Numbers)
- Order of Operations - Add, Subtract, Multiply with Parentheses (4 Numbers)
- Order of Operations - Add, Subtract, Multiply with Parentheses (3 Numbers)
- Order of Operations - Add, Subtract with Parentheses (5 Numbers)
- Order of Operations - Add, Subtract with Parentheses (4 Numbers)
Units Teaching This Skill
These adaptive units introduce, teach, or reinforce this skill (Evaluate numerical expressions with parentheses) through scaffolded problems that grow in difficulty as concepts are understood.