Order of Operations (BODMAS) is an acronym that is taught to children to assist them in calculations that look like this:

19 + (3 × 9² - 6) =

Where do we start? Do we go from right to left like an ordinary equation, nope! One thing we must remember with sums like this is if we answer in the wrong order, we will get an incorrect answer! So, let’s break it down; operations are the components of the sum, addition, subtraction, orders etc. BODMAS translates too:

B: brackets

O: order

D: division

M: multiplication

A: addition

S: subtraction

 

 

So, let’s go back to our sum, 19 + (3 × 9² - 6) =  using the BODMAS methods lets break down the equations into steps. First, we must start with the brackets: (3 × 9² - 6) next is order, 9² which gives us 81, so we input this into our equation: (3 × 81 - 6), next we need to look at the multiplication 3 x 81 which gives us 243 and we input this (243-7). However, if we look at the process again addition is supposed to be completed before subtraction, but, because this subtraction is inside the brackets it should still be completed first. So, our final step of our equation is now 19 + (243 – 7 ) = 19 + 236 = 255

 

 

So long as you follow the steps used in Order of Operations there is little room for confusion. Whoever, there are two main exceptions to this process.

Multiplication and division are on the same level and the same as addition and subtraction (this just means that these two operations work together), so when an equation contains just these two operations, we can just work from left to right (as seen above in the diagram).