Simple/Basics : Order of precedence of operators - Factorial - The Beat The GMAT Forum

Simple/Basics : Order of precedence of operators - Factorial

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namitaj: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 1; Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:32 am; Location: India

by namitaj » Mon Jul 21, 2014 2:44 am

hi,

Can someone please help me confirm the order of precedence of the operators . Is the below correct (highest to lowest). I was a bit confused about Factorials.

Parenthesis
Factorials
Exponentials
Multiplication
Division
Addition
Subtraction

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Mon Jul 21, 2014 2:44 am

GMATinsight: Legendary Member; Posts: 1100; Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 11:34 pmFollowed by: 24 members; Location: New Delhi, India; Thanked: 205 times

by GMATinsight » Mon Jul 21, 2014 3:30 am

namitaj wrote:hi,

Can someone please help me confirm the order of precedence of the operators . Is the below correct (highest to lowest). I was a bit confused about Factorials.

Parenthesis
Factorials
Exponentials
Multiplication
Division
Addition
Subtraction

PEDMAS is the only Rule that needs to be followed

Factorial is a function that needs to be solved in isolation for that particular number whose factorial is being taken.

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GMATinsight: Legendary Member; Posts: 1100; Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 11:34 pmFollowed by: 24 members; Location: New Delhi, India; Thanked: 205 times

by GMATinsight » Mon Jul 21, 2014 3:32 am

Order of Operations/P.E.M.D.A.S.:

The order is:

P.E.M.D.A.S.
Parenthesis | Exponents | Multiplication | Division | Addition | Subtraction

Perform the operations inside a parenthesis first
Then exponents
Then multiplication and division, from left to right
Then addition and subtraction, from left to right

You can also create a little phrase to memorize, as the sequence:
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally

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GMAT/MBA Expert

ceilidh.erickson: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2095; Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:22 pmFollowed by: 247 members; Thanked: 1443 times

by ceilidh.erickson » Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:04 am

It's unusual for a factorial to be used in combination with other operations; usually it's just used on its own. However, if you saw something like:
3 + 4!(5 - 2) - 1
Just treat the factorial as a special expression of MULTIPLICATION:
3 + 4*3*2*1(5 - 2)

Then, follow standard PEMDAS rules:
Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication
Division
Addition
Subtraction

Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education

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