Which operation would you perform first according to the order of operations in the expression: 5 + 2 × 3?

Which operation would you perform first according to the order of operations in the expression: 5 + 2 × 3?

• A. Addition
• B. Multiplication
• C. Subtraction
• D. Division

Answer: (B)

In the expression 5 + 2 × 3, multiplication is performed before addition because of the established order of operations, which is often remembered using the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division from left to right, Addition and Subtraction from left to right). In this case, the multiplication occurs first; specifically, 2 is multiplied by 3, yielding 6. After that, the result of this multiplication is added to 5. It is crucial to respect this order to arrive at the correct solution, which would be 5 + 6 = 11. Understanding this hierarchy is fundamental in mathematics to ensure consistent results across various calculations.

In the expression 5 + 2 × 3, multiplication is performed before addition because of the established order of operations, which is often remembered using the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division from left to right, Addition and Subtraction from left to right).

In this case, the multiplication occurs first; specifically, 2 is multiplied by 3, yielding 6. After that, the result of this multiplication is added to 5. It is crucial to respect this order to arrive at the correct solution, which would be 5 + 6 = 11.

Understanding this hierarchy is fundamental in mathematics to ensure consistent results across various calculations.