|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What do grasshoppers have to do with math? Nothing really except for the fantabulous use of their enormous gastronomic appetite which leads to a super mnemonic device that is going to be handy for Y-O-U!
It's called GEMA which stands for
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Grasshoppers Eat Most Anything
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
grouping – exponents – multiplication/division – addition/subtraction
Ring any bells yet? How about a clue? Order of Operations…Yeah! That's it! One of the toughest things to remember in math (and an important one) is this thing called the Order of Operations. It's kind of like writing a sentence and putting the words all out of order. Syntax is the same thing in sentence writing.
In math, we use a specific order when evaluating problems.
|
|
|
|
|
|
First, you have to check for grouping symbols. These can be (parenthesis) or {braces} or even [brackets]. These are the symbols used to denote groups.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Next, come the exponents. This would be the little number written in super-script.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Then, multiplication followed by division, going from left to right.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lastly, addition followed by subtraction, going from left to right.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
So, let's say you want to simplify:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Think: GEMA (grouping) so you'd do what is in the parenthesis first
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
which then is followed immediately by multiplying it by 7 because it is connected to the parenthesis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We've now done the G (grouping), there's no E for exponents so we'd already moved to the M (multiplication/division).
Now, all that's left is the A for addition and subtraction! And, this you do from left to right…
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Note: What would' ve happened if you didn't use GEMA? Uh oh…you'd have added 5 + 7 (which equals 12) then multiplied that with 11 (from the 2 + 9) which would've given you 132 and then subtracted 1 leaving you with 131 which is SO totally WRONG! You see? Knowing about Grasshoppers eating most anything would have saved you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Download a practice page and see how well you can use GEMA! Click Let's Practice! Order of Operations to download a sheet to work on.
And, if you want even MORE practice, click More Order of Operations Practice! for another downloadable worksheet!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
©2009–2010 Sherry Skipper Spurgeon. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
