Mastering arithmetic is essential for solving everyday problems and building a strong foundation in math. Let's dive into the four basic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Addition is the process of finding the total or sum by combining two or more numbers. It's one of the simplest and most fundamental math operations.
Example: If you have 3 oranges and you get 4 more, you now have:
3 + 4 = 7Subtraction means taking one number away from another to find the difference.
Example: If you start with 10 apples and give away 4, you're left with:
10 - 4 = 6Multiplication is a quick way of adding the same number multiple times. It involves two factors: one indicates how many times to repeat the other.
Example: If there are 5 groups of 3 candies each, the total number of candies is:
5 × 3 = 15Division is the process of splitting a number into equal parts or groups. The number being divided is called the dividend, and the number dividing it is the divisor.
Example: If you have 20 chocolates and share them equally among 4 friends, each friend gets:
20 ÷ 4 = 5Arithmetic is the foundation of many advanced math topics. Practice these exercises and try to solve real-life problems using these concepts.
Fractions represent parts of a whole. To add or subtract fractions, they must have the same denominator (bottom number). If they don’t, you need to find a common denominator first.
Example (Like Denominators): Add 1/4 + 2/4. Since the
denominators are the same, just add the numerators:
1/4 + 2/4 = 3/4Example (Unlike Denominators): Add 1/3 + 1/6. First, find a
common denominator (6 in this case):
1/3 = 2/6, so 2/6 + 1/6 = 3/6 = 1/2To multiply fractions, multiply the numerators and denominators. To divide fractions, multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second.
Example (Multiplication): Multiply 2/3 × 4/5:
(2 × 4) / (3 × 5) = 8/15Example (Division): Divide 3/4 ÷ 2/5. Flip the second
fraction and multiply:
3/4 × 5/2 = 15/8Division involves splitting a number into equal parts. When dividing by larger numbers, use long division to break down the problem.
Example: Divide 452 by 34:
452 ÷ 34 = 13 remainder 10To multiply or divide by powers of 10, simply move the decimal point. For multiplication, move it to the right; for division, move it to the left.
Example: Multiply 34.5 by 100:
34.5 × 100 = 3450Example: Divide 2500 by 10:
2500 ÷ 10 = 250When adding or subtracting decimals, line up the decimal points to ensure accuracy.
Example: Add 12.34 and 5.67:
12.34 + 5.67 = 18.01PEMDAS is a set of rules that help us solve math problems with multiple operations in the correct order. Let’s break it down step by step with explanations, examples, and tips to master it!
PEMDAS stands for the order of operations in math:
This rule ensures that everyone gets the same answer when solving a math problem.
Let’s solve the problem: 8 + (6 × 2) ÷ 3².
6 × 2 = 12, so the problem becomes 8 + 12 ÷ 3².3² = 9, so the problem becomes 8 + 12 ÷ 9.12 ÷ 9 = 1.33 (rounded), so the problem becomes 8 + 1.33.8 + 1.33 = 9.33.Try solving these problems step by step using PEMDAS:
5 + (3 × 4)(8 + 2) × 3²12 ÷ (2 + 4) × 510 + 3² ÷ (2 × 3)(6 + 4) ÷ (2²) + 3© 2025 Mr. Z Math Games All Rights Reserved
Author: José Ramiro Zúñiga