Thread: Order of Operations Problem(s)

1. Order of Operations Problem(s)

5y^2 + y + 1; y=4

So...

5(4)^2 + 4 + 1

I'm not sure if I am supposed to multiply the 5(4) before I square root it.

5(4)^2 + 4 + 1
= 20^2 + 4 + 1
= 400 + 4 + 1
= 405

Did I work the problem correctly?

Parentheses-Exponents-Multiplication-Division-Addition-Subtraction

2. Originally Posted by Melancholy
5y^2 + y + 1; y=4

So...

5(4)^2 + 4 + 1

I'm not sure if I am supposed to multiply the 5(4) before I square root it.

5(4)^2 + 4 + 1
= 20^2 + 4 + 1
= 400 + 4 + 1
= 405

Did I work the problem correctly?

Parentheses-Exponents-Multiplication-Division-Addition-Subtraction
Exponents have a higher precedence than multiplication.

You would need to square 4 first, and then multiply by 5:

$\displaystyle 5(4)^2+4+1=5(16)+4+1=\dots$

--Chris

3. Ahhh, thank you very much, Chris. I kept thinking that the parentheses around the four came first since they are, afterall, first on the "pemdas" list. Guess I need to do some serious review on my stuff before Algebra II this year, eh? ^_^

<3