The order of operations, or PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally): Rule that prioritize sequence of operations starting from most important to least important.
Step 1: Do as much as you can to simplify everything inside the parenthesis
Step 2: Simplify every exponential in the numerical expression.
Step 3: Multiply, and Divide whichever comes first from left to right.
Step 4: Add, and Subtract whichever comes first from left to right
PEMDAS is a mnemonic device that can help you to remember the order of operations.