PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally)

Title: PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally)

Source: Nova Press (2006). GMAT. Retrieved February 4, 2007, from Nova’s Test Prep Center. Web site: http://www.novapress.net/gmat/math.html.

Behavior Objective: When given the mnemonic PEMDAS students will correctly use the strategy 9 out of 10 times to complete order of operations problems.

Targeted age/population: 6th to 12th grade students

Content Area: Math

Describe Strategy/Idea:
PEMDAS is a mnemonic used to help students remember the proper order of operations. When using PEMDAS if an operation does not exist in the problem that step is skipped and the student goes on to the next letter (or operation).

PEMDAS stands for:
P = parenthesis E = exponents M = multiplication
D = division A = addition S = subtraction

Procedure for Use:
PEMDAS would be written on the board at the beginning of class and students would be expected to write the mnemonic in their notebooks as well. When working on daily assignments students should refer to the board or their notebook to complete the proper order of operations.
Students will look at each problem individually and answer the questions are there; any parenthesis? any exponents? any multiplication? any division? any addition? and any subtraction? They will work out the problem in a step-by-step manner. If by chance an operation does not appear in the problem students skip that step and go onto the next. If the problem contains numerous parentheses, exponents, etc. students will still follow the proper order and complete all sets of parenthesis first before continuing onto the next step (exponents).