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.
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.
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