Final answer:
The order of operations determines the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed in a numeric expression. It follows the rules of parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division, and addition and subtraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The order of operations is a set of rules that determine the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed in a numeric expression. These rules help ensure that the expression is evaluated correctly and consistently. The order of operations is:
- Perform operations inside parentheses or other grouping symbols first.
- Calculate exponents or square roots.
- Multiply or divide from left to right.
- Add or subtract from left to right.
Let's look at an example: 8 - 4 * 2. According to the order of operations, you should perform the multiplication first: 4 * 2 = 8. Then, subtract 8 from 8 to get the final answer of 0.