Unit 2: Order of Operations

associative property

numbers can be added or multiplied by moving the parenthesis (grouping)

commutative property

numbers can be added or multiplied in any order

expression

A mathematical phrase that contains operations, numbers, and/or variables. (Example: 6x + 1)

exponential form

A number is in exponential form when it is written with a base and an exponent.

factor

A number that is multiplied by another number to get a product. (Example: 5 is a factor of 15 since 5 · 3 = 15)

order of operations

A rule for evaluating expressions: first perform the operations in parentheses, then compute powers and roots, then perform all multiplication and division from left to right, and then perform all addition and subtraction from left to right.

prime number

A whole number greater than 0 that has exactly two different factors, 1 and itself.

prime factorization

Breaking down a composite number until all of the factors are prime

composite

a number that has factors other than 1 and itself (Ex. 15 --> 1,3,5,15)

prime

a number that only has a factor of 1 and itself (Ex. 7 --> 1,7)

equivalent

equal, =

distributive property

terms within an expression can be expanded to form an equivalent expression a(b + c) = ab + ac

identity property

the sum (addition) of a number and zero is the number, the product (multiplication) of a number and one is the number (Ex. 8 + 0 = 8 8 x 1 = 8)