Question

What does PEMDAS mean?

Answer 1

Hint: First we will understand the term PEMDAS and how it is related with the term BODMAS. Now, to understand it more effectively we will consider an example of expression containing more than one mathematical operator like brackets, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction etc. and try to solve it.

Complete step by step solution:
Here we have been asked about the term ‘PEMDAS’. So let us know about this term and its relation with BODMAS.
Now, the term ‘PEMDAS’ stands for parenthesis (brackets), exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction. It states that we have to simplify any expression according to the operations listed in order. PEMDAS and BODMAS are exactly the same. They are different names used for the same set of rules. According to these rules we need to simplify the terms present inside the bracket first and so on according to the listed operations in order. However, division and multiplication operations can be interchanged. That means we can perform any of the two first, among themselves only.
Let us consider an example. Here we are taking the expression $56\div \left( 20+8 \right)-{{4}^{2}}$. Let us assume this expression as ‘E’. So we have,
$\Rightarrow E=56\div \left( 20+8 \right)-{{4}^{2}}$
First we need to solve the terms inside the bracket, so we get,
$\Rightarrow E=56\div 28-{{4}^{2}}$
In the next step we need to simplify the exponent term, so we get,
$\Rightarrow E=56\div 28-16$
Moving ahead we have two operations, division and subtraction, so according to the PEMDAS rule we have to perform the division first, so we get,
$\begin{align}
  & \Rightarrow E=\dfrac{56}{28}-16 \\
 & \Rightarrow E=2-16 \\
\end{align}$
At last we have been left with the subtraction, therefore we have,
$\Rightarrow E=-14$
Hence, -14 is our answer.

Note: You must remember the order of operation of these rules as they help us in simplifying the expressions easily. Sometimes the expressions are very large which may confuse us if we don’t apply these rules. Note that there are three types of bracket namely: square bracket, curly bracket and small bracket. If they all are present at once then first simplify the terms inside the small bracket then curly bracket and at last square bracket.