ORDER OF
OPERATIONS
For
Primary School Mathematics, the following operators are usually used:
FIRST Order : ( ) Bracket B
SECOND Order : x ÷
Multiplication and Division
MD
THIRD Order : + -
Addition and Subtraction
AS
Tip to Remember: BMDAS – Baby Monsters Dance And Sing
When there are different operators [ + - x ¸ () ], then we need to follow the ORDER of
OPERATION:
Do the question by: (1) completing all FIRST order,
(2) follow by all SECOND order,
(3) and then the THIRD order.
Why do we need order of
operations?
- To
have a consistent answer to the question.
Example
1+ 2 x 4 – 3 = 9 if we work from
left to right - wrong
1 + 2 x 4 – 3 = 3 if we work from
right to left - wrong
1+2 x 4 – 3 = 6 we use the order of
operations - correct
METHOD for Order
of Operation
Step 1: Look for the operators to do first
Step 2: Underline the operators
Step 3: Do calculation
Step 4: Repeat step 1-3 until question is
solved.
Example:
What is the value of
9 + 3 x 4 – (3 + 12 ÷ 4) ÷ 2
Step1: Bracket, yes? <Do bracket first>
order
within bracket -> do ÷ first, then +
Step2: Underline
9 + 3 x 4
– (3+ 12÷4) ÷ 2
↓
Step3: Do calculation
= 9 + 3 x 4 – (3 + 3) ÷ 2
Step4: = 9 +
3 x 4 – 6 ÷ 2 < Completed bracket?, repeat step 1-3>
↓ < Do x and ÷ >
= 9 +12 – 3 < Completed x and ÷? >
< Do + and - >
= 21 – 3
= 18 <Complete question>
~~~ END ~~~ :)
~~~ END ~~~ :)
