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PEMDAS Calculator
Solve a PEMDAS expression and see each operation, with multiplication and division done from left to right.
Type an expression such as 100-40/2. Use ^ or ** for an exponent.
Order of operations
Parentheses, then exponents, then × and ÷ left to right, then + and − left to right
Enter an expression to see each operation, then the value. Try 100-40/2.
This PEMDAS calculator reads an arithmetic expression and applies the order of operations one step at a time. Parentheses come first, then exponents, then multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction from left to right. Multiplication does not always come before division, so 8/2*(2+2) equals 16. An expression such as 100-40/2 equals 80, and division by zero is explained instead of treated as a number.
What PEMDAS means for an order of operations calculator
PEMDAS is the classroom name for the order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. Multiplication and division share one tier and are worked from left to right. Addition and subtraction share the next tier and are also worked from left to right. The order of the letters does not mean multiplication always comes before division.
Type a PEMDAS equation such as 100-40/2. Division happens before subtraction, so 40/2 is 20 and 100 minus 20 is 80. The expression 8/2*(2+2) is 16: the parentheses become 4, then 8/2 and the multiply run left to right. If a later step divides by zero, the calculator explains that there is no result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does multiplication come before division?
No. Multiplication and division are the same tier in PEMDAS, and so are addition and subtraction. Work each tier from left to right. 8/2*4 is 16, because 8 divided by 2 is 4 and 4 times 4 is 16. BODMAS writes the D before the M and still uses this same left-to-right rule.
What does PEMDAS stand for?
Parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. Nested parentheses are simplified from the inside out. Exponents come next and run right to left, so 2^3^2 means 2^(3^2), which is 512. Multiplication and division follow, then addition and subtraction.
What is 100-40/2?
80. Divide before you subtract: 40/2 is 20, and 100 minus 20 is 80. Subtracting first would be the expression (100-40)/2, which is 30, and that is a different calculation.
What happens when an expression divides by zero?
Division by zero has no result, so the calculator does not show a number or an infinity symbol. It says that the division is undefined. Raising 0 to a negative power is the same problem, because that power divides by zero. Steps that were valid before the division stay on the page.