To solve the Order of Operations Maze, we need to start at the "Start Here" box and follow the path where the answer to the math problem matches the number on the connecting line. We will use the order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS): Parentheses/Brackets first, then Exponents, then Multiplication and Division (left to right), and finally Addition and Subtraction (left to right).
Step 1: Start Here
Problem: $3 + 4 \times (2 \times 5) - 2$
1. Inside parentheses: $2 \times 5 = 10$
2. Equation becomes: $3 + 4 \times 10 - 2$
3. Multiplication: $4 \times 10 = 40$
4. Equation becomes: $3 + 40 - 2$
5. Addition/Subtraction: $43 - 2 = 41$
Result: 41. The path labeled
41 goes down.
Step 2: Next Box
Problem: $(4 \times 5) - (2^3 + 7)$
1. First parentheses: $4 \times 5 = 20$
2. Second parentheses: Calculate exponent first ($2^3 = 8$), then add ($8 + 7 = 15$)
3. Equation becomes: $20 - 15$
4. Subtraction: $20 - 15 = 5$
Result: 5. The path labeled
5 goes right.
Step 3: Next Box
Problem: $4^3 + (6 \times 8) - 12$
1. Exponent: $4^3 = 4 \times 4 \times 4 = 64$
2. Parentheses: $6 \times 8 = 48$
3. Equation becomes: $64 + 48 - 12$
4. Addition: $64 + 48 = 112$
5. Subtraction: $112 - 12 = 100$
Result: 100. The path labeled
100 goes up.
Step 4: Next Box
Problem: $5 \times (2 + 6) - 4$
1. Parentheses: $2 + 6 = 8$
2. Equation becomes: $5 \times 8 - 4$
3. Multiplication: $5 \times 8 = 40$
4. Subtraction: $40 - 4 = 36$
Result: 36. The path labeled
36 goes right.
Step 5: Next Box
Problem: $(8 + 8) \times (2^2 + 4)$
1. First parentheses: $8 + 8 = 16$
2. Second parentheses: Exponent first ($2^2 = 4$), then add ($4 + 4 = 8$)
3. Equation becomes: $16 \times 8$
4. Multiplication: $16 \times 8 = 128$
Result: 128. The path labeled
128 goes down-left diagonally.
Step 6: Next Box
Problem: $(2^8) \times (32 \div 4)$
1. First part (Exponent): $2^8 = 256$
2. Second part (Parentheses/Division): $32 \div 4 = 8$
3. Equation becomes: $256 \times 8$
4. Multiplication: $256 \times 8 = 2048$
Result: 2048. The path labeled
2048 goes down-left diagonally.
Step 7: Next Box
Problem: $33 - 27 \div (6 + 3)$
1. Parentheses: $6 + 3 = 9$
2. Equation becomes: $33 - 27 \div 9$
3. Division: $27 \div 9 = 3$
4. Equation becomes: $33 - 3$
5. Subtraction: $33 - 3 = 30$
Result: 30. The path labeled
30 goes left.
Step 8: Final Box (End Here)
Problem: $126 \div 6 - (10 + 9)$
1. Parentheses: $10 + 9 = 19$
2. Equation becomes: $126 \div 6 - 19$
3. Division: $126 \div 6 = 21$
4. Equation becomes: $21 - 19$
5. Subtraction: $21 - 19 = 2$
Result: 2. This is the "End Here" box.
Final Answer:
The correct path through the maze follows these answers in order:
1.
41
2.
5
3.
100
4.
36
5.
128
6.
2048
7.
30
8.
2 (End Here)
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of worksheet order of operations.
