Order of operations (BODMAS)

Why 2 + 3 × 4 is 14 and not 20, and how to always work in the right order. About 7 minutes, KS3 / GCSE.

What you will do

  1. Why we need an order. What is 2 + 3 × 4? Some people say 20, some say 14. To make sure everyone gets the same answer, mathematicians agreed on an order: BODMAS - Brackets, Orders (powers and roots), Division and Multiplication, then Addition and Subtraction.
  2. Watch it in order. The player highlights which operation goes next. Watch brackets finish first.
  3. Powers come before multiplying. Powers (orders) are done after brackets but before multiplication.
  4. Ties go left to right. Division and multiplication have equal rank, and so do addition and subtraction. When they tie, work left to right. So 18 ÷ 3 × 2 is 6 × 2 = 12.
  5. Try one yourself. Work this out on paper, then type it in.

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