Math Is Fun Forum

Greg C. Since the "P" of PEMDAS is parentheses, I do not understand your comment "expressions like -(...) throw off those" following the order of operations expressed by PEMDAS. Insert any value inside the parentheses, and then reverse them, as the "P" rule dictates. Lets say (...) = (1 - 5). Then x -(...) = x -(1 - 5) = x + (-1) + (-(-5)) or x + (-1) + 5 or x + 4.

I actually read this post hoping to understand what BODMAS stands for. I get that Brackets replace Parentheses, and since the division IS multiplication, just as subtraction IS addition, there can be no distinction in the order of operations, provided we recall that subtraction of a positive number is equivalent to addition of a negative number, but what does the "O" stand for, that obviously must be equivalent to an exponent?

Reference from Pemdascalculator.com