Luttrell 2012
60
Name: ______________________
Date: _____
4d- Using Absolute Values within the Order of Operations
The American way to remember the order is to say “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” where the
beginning of each word represents the operation: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division,
Addition, and Subtraction. Since division is definition a multiplication of fractions, whenever you see
them together, you go left to right. This can explain why the Canadian expression “Bed Mas” is still valid
in spite of them listing division first. Again when multiplication and division are together, the order is the
left operator goes first. The same can be said of addition and subtraction.
1. 2 –
3(4+5) +3∙5
2. 2∙3 + 3(2-1)
3. 4(3-2
2
)-
3∙7+8∙4
4. 3÷9
⋅
6–4
2
+5(3-3
2
)
5. 5 – 2
2
+ 3
4
6. –4*2*6 – 12/3 + 3
3
7.
2
3
4 3
2
6
8
2
+ ×
−
÷ +
(
)
8.
(
)(
)
3
3
4
3
5
2
−
− ×
9.
3
4
6
5
2
× ÷ + ×
There are various ways to write a parenthesis: { }, ( ), [ ],
----
, | |. The absolute value is a special type of
parenthesis because it makes the expression contained within a positive value. The first two questions
have been done for you.
1. | -3 | = 3
2. | 1-4 | = | -3| = 3
3. –2 | 3+8-10 |
4. | 2-6 |
∙3
5. | -½ |
6. (-3+4
2
)(-6)
7. –3(2
3
+ 4) ∙5
8. 1-5 | 5 – (9+1)|
9. -2|3-(7-3)|
10. [3 - (2 - 4)][3 + | 2 - 4 |]
11. 4 - | 1 - 7 |
12. 8 - 3| 5- 4
2
+ 1|
