Use the Order of BIDMAS to Solve Calculations

It is easy to think that we should answer a maths question in the order that it is presented to us - this seems to make sense right?

However, this isn't always the case and we need to know the rules to make sure we answer questions correctly.

This is where BIDMAS/BODMAS comes in!

BIDMAS stands for: 

Brackets, Powers or Indices, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction 

(BODMAS means the same thing but the O in BODMAS stands for Orders instead of Indices)

The words that are represented in BIDMAS/BODMAS tell us the order in which we must perform the operations.

However, remember that multiplication and division are equally important, so in a calculation just involving multiplication and division, carry this out from left to right.

The same is true of addition and subtraction - these two are also equally important, and so again we should carry this out from left to right.

Examples

26 + 96 ÷ 3 = 26 + 32 = 58 (divide first)

(16 + 23) ÷ 3 = 39 ÷ 3 =  13 (brackets first)

45 - 4 × 5 = 45 - 20 = 25 (multiply first)

(95 - 36) × 2 = 59 × 2 = 118 (brackets first)

4 × 7² = 4 × 49 = 196 (power first)

(4 × 3)² = 12² = 144 (brackets first)

134 - 45 + 35 = 125 (equally important, so left to right)

Now, why don't you have a go at answering some questions using BIDMAS.

Come back and have another look at this page if you get stuck by clicking on the red help button on the screen.

Good luck!