- #1
Howers
- 447
- 5
We all know BEDMAS from grade school: brackets, exponents, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction. My question is, why does multiplication precede addition, and likewise their inverse operations?
The order of operations, also known as the "PEMDAS" rule, is a set of rules that determines the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed. It stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), and Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).
This is because multiplication is considered a higher order operation than addition. It has a greater impact on the outcome of an expression, hence, it should be performed before addition. Multiplication can also be thought of as repeated addition, which is why it is given precedence over addition.
The order of operations is designed to ensure consistency and accuracy in mathematical calculations. It allows for a standard way of solving expressions, avoiding confusion and errors. By following this rule, we can be sure that the result of an expression is always the same, regardless of who solves it or in what order the operations are written.
No, the order of operations is a fundamental rule in mathematics and cannot be changed. It is universally accepted and used by all mathematicians and scientists to maintain consistency and accuracy in calculations.
There are no exceptions to the order of operations, but there are some cases where parentheses may change the order in which operations are performed. Parentheses override the PEMDAS rule and indicate that the operations inside them should be solved first, regardless of their position in the expression.