It is important to follow the standard order of operations so you get the answer from a mathematical expression that its author intended you get. Examples 1 + 2*3 = 7 (multiplication and division are performed first) 1 + 2*3 ≠ 3*3 16^1/2 = 8 (exponentiation is performed before division) 16^(1/2) = 4 (values in parentheses are treated as a unit. They are evaluated first.)
