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Activity Overview

Students use the calculator to compute the value of expressions involving order of operations.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print the Transparency sheet and pages 25 - 27 from the attached Student PDF file for the class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:

  • Understand that mathematicians have developed an agreed-upon order of operations
  • First complete exponentiation, second complete multiplication and division, third complete addition and subtraction, from left to right
  • Use the calculator to determine the value of different expressions
  • Find alternate ways to complete each computation (break the expression into parts)
  • Record the keystroke sequence used for each solution
  • After the Activity

    Students complete the Student Activity pages.

  • Review student results
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary