The note
How schools teach it now
Taught in Year 6. Schools may say BODMAS or BIDMAS: Brackets, Orders (powers), Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction. Division and multiplication rank equally and go left to right; so do addition and subtraction.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Roll three dice and use +, −, × and brackets to make as many different answers as you can. Does (2 + 3) × 4 give the same as 2 + 3 × 4? (No: 20 and 14.)
Worked example
Work out 6 + 4 × (8 − 5).
- Brackets first: 8 − 5 = 3.
- Then multiply: 4 × 3 = 12.
- Then add: 6 + 12 = 18.
Answer: 18
Common mistakes to watch for
- Working left to right: 6 + 4 = 10, then 10 × 3 = 30.
- Thinking multiplication always comes before division.
- Forgetting that a squared number is worked out before multiplying.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Which part goes first? Let's check together.”
- Rather than
- “Just work it out from left to right.”