What does PEMDAS mean?

It's a memory aid for the order: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. Multiplication and division count as one step worked left to right, and so do addition and subtraction.

Are these problems right for 5th grade?

Yes. Fifth grade practice covers using grouping symbols, interpreting numerical expressions, and writing expressions from words under standards 5.OA.A.1-2.

5th grade order of operations

5th grade order of operations worksheets

Order of operations tells your child which step to do first when a problem mixes grouping symbols, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. Fifth graders also write expressions from verbal descriptions and explain how grouping changes the structure without needing to evaluate every expression.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core 5.OA.A.1, 5.OA.A.2.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of problems you'll get

Evaluate each expression. Show your work.

3 + 2 + 2
Answer: 7
7 + 9 + 3 + 7
Answer: 26
4 × 3 + 7 × 5
Answer: 47

Every print pulls a fresh set of problems at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.

What's on a 5th grade sheet

The sample sheet above has 10 problems. Its answers run from 2 to 228.

Order of operations: fluency practice. Evaluate each expression. Show your work. 10 problems per page.
Interpreting numerical expressions. Complete each problem. Show your reasoning where asked. 4 problems per page.
Writing numerical expressions. Write each expression. Use grouping symbols where needed. Do not evaluate. 5 problems per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key after the problems.

How to teach this

Have your child circle the grouped quantity before touching the math. When translating words, first identify the quantity being combined, then decide whether it needs grouping symbols. For evaluation, work one step per line and rewrite the full expression so an incorrect operation is easy to find.

Watch for: Kids often work straight left to right, turning 7 + 2 × 5 into 45. Multiplication comes before addition, so the answer is 17. Parentheses look skippable when the numbers are small, but whatever sits inside them is always the first step.

Common questions about 5th grade order of operations

What does PEMDAS mean?: It's a memory aid for the order: parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. Multiplication and division count as one step worked left to right, and so do addition and subtraction.
Are these problems right for 5th grade?: Yes. Fifth grade practice covers using grouping symbols, interpreting numerical expressions, and writing expressions from words under standards 5.OA.A.1-2.

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Aligned to Common Core 5.OA.A.1, 5.OA.A.2. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 240, updated September 2026.

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