Correct the Work

This order of operations worksheet challenges students to deepen their understanding of PEMDAS by analyzing incorrect solutions. Learners identify mistakes in multi-step expressions, explain what went wrong, and then rewrite the solution using the correct order of operations, strengthening process-based reasoning.

Instructional Objectives

• Skill Focus (Grades 6-8): Evaluate multi-step numerical expressions using correct order of operations (PEMDAS).
• Conceptual Understanding (Grades 6-8): Analyze common errors related to parentheses, exponents, and operation sequencing.
• Algebraic Reasoning (Grades 7-8): Justify corrections by explaining why certain steps are incorrect and how to fix them.
• Curriculum Alignment (Grades 6-8): Supports operations and algebraic thinking, error analysis, expression evaluation, and mathematical justification standards.

By focusing on incorrect work, students shift from procedural execution to analytical thinking. Explaining mistakes helps learners internalize rules and avoid similar errors in future problem-solving.

Learning Benefits

• Builds strong error-analysis and reasoning skills
• Encourages clear explanation and step-by-step justification
• Effective for discussion-based lessons, review, or assessment
• Suitable for classroom instruction, small groups, or homeschool use

This printable worksheet provides meaningful practice with identifying and correcting order of operations errors, helping students build accuracy, confidence, and deeper conceptual understanding.

This worksheet is part of our 5-Step Order of Operations Worksheets collection.