Which sign comes first? Solve sums one step at a time, place brackets, crack word problems and beat the clock.
Start here. Take 3 + 4 × 2. If you go left to right you get 7 × 2 = 14. But the real answer is 11. Mathematicians agreed on one order so that everybody gets the same answer to the same sum.
The order. First brackets. Then powers such as 3². Then multiplication and division. Last of all addition and subtraction. In the UK this is called BODMAS, and in the US it is called PEMDAS. They mean the same thing.
Same level, left to right. Multiplication and division share a level, and so do addition and subtraction. When two signs on the same level meet, work from left to right. So 8 ÷ 4 × 2 is 2 × 2 = 4, and 10 − 3 + 2 is 7 + 2 = 9.
Brackets are bossy. Brackets say "do me first". In (3 + 4) × 2 the bracket goes first, so you get 7 × 2 = 14. Same numbers, different brackets, different answer. When brackets sit inside brackets, start with the inside one.
Powers. The small 2 in 3² means 3 × 3 = 9. In 2 + 3² × 2 you do 3² = 9 first, then 9 × 2 = 18, and last 2 + 18 = 20.
Word problems. A story turns into a sum. "Nila has 20 stickers. 3 packs of 4 stickers arrive" is 20 + 3 × 4. If the story needs the adding first, put brackets around that part.
Try this above. In Play, tap the sign you would do first in 3 + 4 × 2. The game tells you why if you pick another one. Then try the 24 puzzle: make 24 from four numbers.
Only the letters. B and P both mean brackets (parentheses). O means orders (powers) in BODMAS, E means exponents in PEMDAS. D and M are multiplication and division, and A and S are addition and subtraction. The order of the work is the same.
No. They are on the same level, so you go left to right. In 12 ÷ 3 × 2 you do 12 ÷ 3 = 4 first, then 4 × 2 = 8. The same goes for addition and subtraction.
Brackets force a part of the sum to be worked out first. In 2 + 3 × 4 the answer is 14, but in (2 + 3) × 4 it is 20.
Pick the level, not the age. "Just starting" uses brackets with adding and taking away. "I know the basics" adds × and ÷. "Challenge me" uses brackets inside brackets and powers.
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