Using Brackets in Different Places for Different Answers

In this worksheet, we will learn how putting brackets in different places gives different answers.

Remember that with a string of operations, they must be done in the following order:

Brackets
Powers or indices
Multiplication and division
Adding and subtracting

Remember BIDMAS

Example
 

3 +  5 × 6 - 2 × 3 + 4

= 3 + 30 - 6 + 4 (multiplying first)
= 31 (adding and subtracting from left to right)
 

If we put brackets in different places, we will get a different answer.

(3 + 5) × 6 - 2 × (3 + 4)

= 8 × 6 - 2 × 7 (brackets first)
= 48 - 14 (multiplying next)
= 34 (subtracting)