1. What does BODMAS or BIDMAS stand for?
A collection of rules that gives the correct sequence of steps for doing a calculation is called the order of operations. BIDMAS or BODMAS is an acronym used to tell you the right order to complete a calculation when there are different operations.
1.1 How to carry out BIDMAS calculations with examples
You need to follow BIDMAS, the agreed order of operations in Maths:
- Brackets - solve the brackets first in the expression, For example:
- (2 + 4) + 4 + (3 - 2) = 6 + 4 + 1 = 11
- 15 - (3 × 4) = 15 - 12 = 3
- 14 - (8 ÷ 2) = 14 - 4 = 10
- Indices are powers, e.g. 4² or 5³
- Division - start on the left and work them out in the order that you find them
- Multiplication - start on the left and work then out in the order that you find them
- Addition
- Subtraction
If only subtraction and addition are left in the calculation, work them out in the order you find them - starting from the left of the calculation and working towards the right.
BIDMAS example:
Work out: 4 + 5 × 2?
First perform the multiplication before the addition:
4 + 5 × 2
= 4 + 10
Once the multiplication is completed, do the addition.
= 14
