Which operation do you perform first in the expression 8 / 4 + 2?

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In the expression 8 / 4 + 2, the correct first operation is division. According to the order of operations, also known as PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)), division and multiplication are performed before addition and subtraction.

In this particular case, you first divide 8 by 4, which yields 2. After completing the division, you'll then perform the addition with the next number in the expression, which is also 2. So, following the correct order, the expression simplifies as follows:

  1. Perform the division: 8 / 4 = 2

  2. Then, perform the addition: 2 + 2 = 4

This systematic approach ensures that calculations are performed accurately, reflecting the intended mathematical operations.

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