Tag: bodmas

This is the third of our worksheets on the order of calculations for Year 6 children, introducing the idea that an expression or row of questions needs to be carried out in a set order so that everyone reaches the same answer.

This page concentrates on brackets.

The first four questions have a single set of brackets, which should be worked out first.

Questions 5 to 10 have two sets of brackets to work out. It is best to encourage a systematic approach, putting in the steps such as:
(4 + 2) x (3 – 1) = 6 x 2 = 12.

Why not just put in the answer? because if an answer is wrong it is much easier to see where the mistake has been made and later at High School students need to show all their working out.

Finally there are a set of expressions which will only be correct if a pair of brackets are entered in the right places.

Order of calculating (Bodmas) pg 3

The acronym BODMAS
Brackets
Of
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction.
It is a convention to ensure everyone carries out a question such as that below in the same order. Numbers in brackets are worked out first, followed by multiplication and division with addition and subtraction last.

3 + 5 x 2 =

One way to do the question is:       3 + 5 = 8.  8 x 2 = 16.
It can also be done like this:           5 x 2 = 10. 10 + 3 = 13.

If you use a calculator and key in 3 + 5 x 2 you might get 16 or 13, it depends on the type of calculator you use (simple of scientific). So which is ‘correct’?
Answer: 13
So with 3 + 5 x 2, the first thing to do is 5 x 2, then add the 3.

To make this easier we often put brackets round parts of the question, to make it clearer, like this:
3 + ( 5 x 2 )
Primary children might not be introduced to the term BODMAS but they should be working in the correct order.

Order of calculating (Bodmas) pg 2

2 + 4 x 3 =
The acronym BODMAS probably conjures up memories of school maths for many people and it is still as important today. It stands for:

Brackets
Of
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction.

It is a convention to ensure everyone carries out a question such as that above in the same order. Numbers in brackets are worked out first, followed by multiplication and division with addition and subtraction last.
One way to do the question is:       2 + 4 = 6.  6 x 3 = 18.
It can also be done like this:    4 x 3 = 12. 12 + 2 = 14.

If you use a calculator and key in 2 + 4 x 3 you might get 18 or 14, it depends on the type of calculator you use (simple of scientific). So which is ‘correct’?
Answer: 14
So with 2 + 4 x 3, the first thing to do is 4 x 3, then add the 2.
To make this easier we often put brackets round parts of the question, to make it clearer, like this:
2 + ( 4 x 3 )
Primary children might not be introduced to the term BODMAS but they should be working in the correct order.

Order of calculating (pg 1)