Printable Order of Operations Word Problems Worksheets
Order of operations word problem worksheets teach 4th and 5th graders to write expressions with parentheses for multi-step stories. These printable sheets feature structured modeling with full answer keys.
Order of Operations Word Problems Practice Pack. Ready to Print.
Structured, printable skill sheets with step-by-step guidance for Order of Operations Word Problems.
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About Order of Operations Word Problems
What this skill is
Order of operations word problems require translating verbal situations into expressions with grouping symbols (such as writing 3 x (4 + 5) to represent buying 3 bags of 4 red and 5 green apples).
When children learn it
Writing simple expressions that record calculations with numbers, and interpreting numerical expressions without evaluating them, is taught in 5th grade (CCSS 5.OA.A.2).
Teaching Tips
- Look for phrases that say "the sum of" or "the difference of": whenever you see "the sum of A and B", put parentheses around them immediately: (A + B). Grouping first ensures the story calculation stays accurate.
Common Mistakes
- Omitting necessary parentheses, producing an expression that calculates incorrectly according to standard order.
- Evaluating multiplication before an addition that was meant to happen first in the story.
- Misinterpreting phrase cues like "the difference of" or "three times the sum of".