When completing calculations, which operation should be performed last?

In the order of operations, which is commonly remembered by the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction), addition and subtraction are considered the last operations to be performed when evaluating a mathematical expression. This means that once all other operations—such as parentheses, exponents, multiplication, and division—have been completed, addition and subtraction are carried out in the order they appear from left to right.

In contrast, multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction. Exponents are also addressed earlier in the sequence than addition and subtraction. By following this established hierarchy, calculations are carried out accurately, ensuring that the final result reflects the intended mathematical interpretation of the expression.