# Order of Operations Worksheets

> Which operation comes first. Grades 2–3. Part of [Super Awesome Math](https://superawesomemath.com/index.md).

Multi-step expressions where the answer depends on doing the operations in the right order: multiplication and division before addition and subtraction, and brackets before either. Three levels run from chains of one kind (25 − 14 + 43) through mixed precedence (70 − 7 × 9) to four-term expressions with brackets (38 − (80 − 76) × 7). Every step lands on a whole number between 2 and 100, division is always exact, and the answer boxes show how many digits to expect.

**Skills:** order of operations, brackets, mental arithmetic, multi-step problems.
**Format:** printable, randomized on every load.
**URL:** https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/order-of-operations
**Grades 2–3** · Last updated: 2026-09-07

## Settings

- Level: easy, medium or hard
- Notation: × ÷ or · : signs
- Columns: 1 or 2 per page
- Use brackets, or leave them out
- Print an answer key

## Example problems

- 25 − 14 + 43 = □□
- 30 − (17 + 9) = □
- 70 − 7 × 9 = □
- 28 + 12 ÷ 2 = □□

## Frequently asked questions

**What is the order of operations?**

Work out anything in brackets first, then all the multiplication and division from left to right, then the addition and subtraction from left to right. It is a convention rather than a discovery: everyone agrees to read 70 − 7 × 9 the same way, so the expression has one answer instead of two.

**Why does my child get 567 for 70 − 7 × 9?**

Because they worked strictly left to right: 70 − 7 is 63, and 63 × 9 is 567. The correct reading multiplies first, giving 70 − 63 = 7. This is the single most common mistake on these sheets, and the fastest cure is asking a child to underline the multiplication before they write anything.

**What do the brackets change?**

Brackets promote whatever is inside them to the front of the queue. 30 − 17 + 9 is 22, but 30 − (17 + 9) is 4, because the bracket makes the addition happen first. Every bracket on these sheets changes the answer, so none of them can be safely ignored.

**Why does each answer have a row of boxes?**

There is one box per digit of the answer, so a child can see whether they are looking for a single digit, a number in the tens, or one in the hundreds. It is a checking aid rather than a hint at the value: an answer that will not fit the boxes is a signal to go back and look at the order again.

## How to use

1. Open https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/order-of-operations.
2. Adjust the settings; they are saved in the browser.
3. Press Regenerate for a new random set, then Print.

## Other Super Awesome Math worksheets

- [Multiplication](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/multiplication.md): Times tables & grid practice
- [Add & Subtract](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/add-subtract.md): Addition & subtraction drills
- [Column Addition](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/column-addition.md): Vertical multi-digit addition
- [Column Multiplication](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/column-multiplication.md): Long multiplication practice
- [Long Division](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/long-division.md): Long division practice
- [Comparison](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/comparison.md): Greater than, less than, equal
- [Rounding](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/rounding.md): Round to nearest 10, 100, 1000
- [Patterns](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/patterns.md): Number sequences & series
- [Equation Explorer](https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/equation-explorer.md): Solve equations interactively

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