Order of Operations

When you see $2 + 3 \times 4$, which operation happens first? Without rules, you might get different answers.

PEMDAS (or BODMAS) tells you the order: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division (left to right), Addition/Subtraction (left to right). So $2 + 3 \times 4 = 2 + 12 = 14$, not $20$.

Computers follow these rules exactly. If your code computes the wrong value, check your parentheses. One misplaced bracket changes everything.