12 × 2 = 24
24 + 10 = 34
This produces 34, which is incorrect because multiplication must be completed before subtraction.
Others do:
20 – 8 = 12
12 + 10 = 22
22 × 2 = 44
This is also incorrect.
The confusion happens because people naturally want to solve equations in the order they read them rather than the order mathematics requires.
The History of Order of Operations
You might wonder why mathematicians created these rules in the first place.
Imagine if everyone could solve equations however they wanted.
An expression like:
8 + 2 × 5
could
