5th Grade Numerical Expressions and Order of Operations Quiz: 10 Questions with Explanations

A 48B 16C 21D 12

Multiply first: 3 × 4 = 12, then 9 + 12 = 21. Adding first gives 48, which is the common mistake.

A 20B 380C 32D 60

Parentheses first: 6 + 4 = 10. Then 2 × 10 = 20 and 40 − 20 = 20. Ignoring the parentheses gives 32.

A 3B 12C 6D 216

Divide and multiply from left to right: 36 ÷ 6 = 6, then 6 × 2 = 12. Multiplying first gives 3.

A \(3\times(6+9)\)B \(3\times6+9\)C \(6+9\times3\)D \(3+6+9\)

The addition comes first, so it needs parentheses: 3 × (6 + 9). Without parentheses the multiplication would happen first.

A 9B 12C 17D 6

Inside out: 8 − 5 = 3, then 3 + 3 = 6, then 2 × 6 = 12.

A It is 5 moreB They are equalC It is one fifth as largeD It is 5 times as large

5 × (24 + 16) is five groups of 24 + 16, so it is 5 times as large.

A 16B 26C 13D 68

2 × 4 = 8, 24 ÷ 8 = 3, 10 + 3 = 13, and 13 × 2 = 26. Forgetting the last step gives 13.

A $24B $15C $11D $20

The expression is 3 × 6 + 2 = 18 + 2 = 20. Adding 6 + 2 first gives $24, which is wrong.

A 8B 28C 16D 24

Subtract and add from left to right: 18 − 6 = 12, then 12 + 4 = 16. Adding 6 + 4 first gives 8.

A She added before multiplying; the value is 16B She multiplied before adding; the value is 16C She should divide first; the value is 5D Nothing is wrong; the value is 20

Multiplication comes before addition: 6 × 2 = 12, then 4 + 12 = 16.