Evaluate the Expression: 4 + 2² Using Order of Operations

Q: Why can't I just go from left to right like reading?

Mathematics has a specific order that everyone follows worldwide! Without PEMDAS, the expression $ 4 + 2^2 $ could have different answers, causing confusion.

Q: What does the little 2 above the other 2 mean?

That's called an exponent or power! $ 2^2 $ means "2 times itself" or $ 2 \times 2 = 4 $. It's like a shortcut for repeated multiplication.

Q: How do I remember PEMDAS?

Try this phrase: "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" - Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. Practice with simple problems first!

Q: What if there were parentheses in this problem?

Parentheses always come first in PEMDAS! If we had $ (4 + 2)^2 $, we'd calculate inside parentheses first: $ 6^2 = 36 $.

Q: Is there a way to check my work?

Yes! Work backwards or use a calculator to verify. For $ 4 + 2^2 $, calculate $ 2^2 = 4 $ first, then $ 4 + 4 = 8 $. Your final answer should be 8.

Order of Operations with Basic Exponents

$4+2^2=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:03 Let's solve this math problem together!

00:06 First, break down the exponent step by step.

00:10 Remember, always handle multiplication and division before moving to addition and subtraction.

00:15 And there you have it, that's the solution to the problem!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$4+2^2=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the expression $4 + 2^2$ , follow the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)).

Let's break down the expression:

Step 1: Identify any exponents.
The expression contains an exponent: $2^2$ . To evaluate this, multiply 2 by itself: $2 \times 2$ , which equals 4.
So, $2^2 = 4$ .
Step 2: Perform addition.
Now, substitute the result back into the original expression:
$4 + 4$ .
Add these numbers together: 4 + 4 equals 8.

Therefore, the answer to the expression $4 + 2^2$ is 8.

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

PEMDAS Rule: Exponents come before addition in order of operations
Technique: Calculate $2^2 = 2 \times 2 = 4$ first, then add
Check: Substitute back: $4 + 4 = 8$ matches our answer ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding before calculating the exponent
Don't calculate 4 + 2 = 6 first, then square to get 36! This ignores the order of operations and gives completely wrong results. Always calculate exponents first, then perform addition.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$5+\sqrt{36}-1=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just go from left to right like reading?

Mathematics has a specific order that everyone follows worldwide! Without PEMDAS, the expression $4 + 2^2$ could have different answers, causing confusion.

What does the little 2 above the other 2 mean?

That's called an exponent or power! $2^2$ means "2 times itself" or $2 \times 2 = 4$ . It's like a shortcut for repeated multiplication.

How do I remember PEMDAS?

Try this phrase: "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" - Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. Practice with simple problems first!

What if there were parentheses in this problem?

Parentheses always come first in PEMDAS! If we had $(4 + 2)^2$ , we'd calculate inside parentheses first: $6^2 = 36$ .

Is there a way to check my work?

Yes! Work backwards or use a calculator to verify. For $4 + 2^2$ , calculate $2^2 = 4$ first, then $4 + 4 = 8$ . Your final answer should be 8.

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