What operation is performed first in the order of operations?

In the order of operations, which is often remembered using the acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction), exponentiation is one of the highest-ranked operations. Therefore, exponentiation is performed first before any other operations such as multiplication, division, addition, or subtraction.

This means that any calculations involving exponents—whether squaring a number, taking a cube, or using any other exponent—should be completed before addressing multiplication, addition, or subtraction in a mathematical expression. Understanding this hierarchy is crucial for accurately solving equations and mathematical problems, as performing the operations in the wrong order can lead to incorrect results.