What operation is performed last in the standard order of operations?

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Multiple Choice

What operation is performed last in the standard order of operations?

Explanation:
Understanding how expressions are evaluated requires knowing the order of operations: exponents come first (squaring is an exponent operation), then multiplication and division from left to right, and finally addition and subtraction from left to right. So, among the options listed, the addition step happens last because it sits at the final stage of this hierarchy. For example, in an expression that includes squaring and multiplication, you would resolve the exponent first, then the multiplication, and only after those do you perform the addition. If you see a summation notation, you evaluate the inner terms first and then add them together, which again places the overall combining step at the outermost, final stage. Therefore, addition is performed last.

Understanding how expressions are evaluated requires knowing the order of operations: exponents come first (squaring is an exponent operation), then multiplication and division from left to right, and finally addition and subtraction from left to right. So, among the options listed, the addition step happens last because it sits at the final stage of this hierarchy. For example, in an expression that includes squaring and multiplication, you would resolve the exponent first, then the multiplication, and only after those do you perform the addition. If you see a summation notation, you evaluate the inner terms first and then add them together, which again places the overall combining step at the outermost, final stage. Therefore, addition is performed last.

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