PEMDAS is the order of mathematical stages to figure out a problem. P: Parenthesis, this means you must figure out the problem within the parenthesis first before anything. E: Exponent, exponents are, for example, x^2. You must simplify the exponents after the parenthesis, if any. M: Multiply. This is simple, just do all the multiplication problems after you've dealt with parenthesis and exponents. D: Divide, Divide out the problems after multiplying, if any. A: Addition S: Subtraction