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Order of Operations Puzzle

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Order of Operations Puzzle

A supply box at the campsite has a number lock. Solve each expression using the order of operations: brackets first, then powers, then multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction from left to right. Show working where asked.

Unlock the supply box

Each result matches a letter: A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, and so on. Solve the expressions and write the matching letters in order to reveal the eight-letter camp message.

1.Solve 3² + 7. Write the result and its matching letter.

2.Solve 2 × (5 + 4). Write the result and its matching letter.

3.Solve (6 ÷ 3) − 1. Write the result and its matching letter.

4.Solve 10 − (4 + 3). Write the result and its matching letter.

5.Solve 12 ÷ (2 + 1) × 5. Write the result and its matching letter.

6.Solve 3². Write the result and its matching letter.

7.Solve (2 × 4) − 5. Write the result and its matching letter.

8.Solve (14 + 6) ÷ 4. Write the result and its matching letter.

9.Write the eight letters in order. What is the camp message?

Camp calculation checks

Keira and Finn are checking supply counts before setting off. Be careful about the order in which operations are done.

10.Each of 2 bags has 8 snack bars, and 6 more are shared equally between the bags. How many bars are in each bag? Evaluate 8 + 6 ÷ 2.

11.Tui puts 9 drink sachets into each of 3 packs, then uses 4 sachets. Evaluate 9 × 3 − 4.

12.Finn writes 24 ÷ 4 × 2 = 3 because he says multiplication must always come before division. Is he correct? Give the correct answer and explain briefly.

13.Choose the expression that equals 20: (a) 4 + 2 × 7, (b) (4 + 2) × 3 + 1, or (c) 4 × (2 + 3).

14.Make a supply-count expression that equals 18 using exactly three different operation signs from +, −, ×, ÷ and at least one pair of brackets. Show your expression and evaluate it.

15.A common mistake is to add before multiplying in 5 + 3 × 4. Give the correct answer, then explain one way to check it.