ORDER OF

OPERATIONS

B O D/M A/S
 ORDER OF OPERATIONS
1. INTRODUCTION TO BODMAS

• What is BODMAS ?
• Why is it required, after all ?

BODMAS (An Acronym)

• The Rule – Explanation

• How to remember it all …? BODMAS !

Examples – To strengthen the understanding

 WHAT IS BODMAS ?
An arithmetic expression involving multiple
operations is not as simple as operations
involving two numbers. In order to solve an
expression with more than two numbers,
brackets, exponents, and more than one
operation like Addition, Subtraction, or Division;
we may require a rule to follow. This rule is
called BODMAS
 WHAT IS AN EXPRESSION ?
Individual Numbers – 42 and 32
An arithmetic expression – 42+32
Similarly,
Another expression - 2 + 4 x (6 + 2)
[which consists of numbers like 2, 4, 6 and 2;
and operators like +, x, and () ]
 WHY IS IT REQUIRED ?
When you have an expression something like...

7 + (6 × 52 + 3)

... what part should you calculate first?

Start at the left and go to the right? Or go from right to

left?
Warning: Calculate them in the wrong order, and you can
get a wrong answer !
 BODMAS (AN ACRONYM)
BODMAS is an acronym or mnemonic used to help
pupils remember the correct order to complete
mathematical calculations.
 THE RULE – AN EXPLANATION

BRACKETS – ( ) { } [ ]

Do things in Brackets, first –

7 x (3 + 5) = 7 x 8 = 48 (Correct)

7 x (3 + 5) = 21 + 5 = 26 (Wrong)

7 x (3 + 5) = 21 + 35 = 56 (Wrong)
 THE RULE – AN EXPLANATION

ORDERS – 𝑥2

Now, solve exponents (powers),and roots –

7 x (32 + 5) = 7 x 14 = 98 (Correct)

7 x (32 + 5) = 7 x 82 = 448 (Wrong)

7 x (32 + 5) = 212 + 5 = 446 (Wrong)

 THE RULE – AN EXPLANATION
DIVISION / MULTIPLICATION

Now, solve division or multiplication, whichever

appears first from Left to Right –
8 + 3 x 5 = 8 + 15 = 23 (Correct)
8 + 3 x 5 = 11 x 5 = 55 (Wrong)
8 / 2 x 3 = 4 x 3 = 12 (Correct)
8 / 2 x 3 = 8 / 6 = 1.33 (Wrong)
 THE RULE – AN EXPLANATION
DIVISION / MULTIPLICATION

Now, solve division or multiplication, whichever

appears first from Left to Right –
8 +𝟑×𝟔÷𝟐
8 + 18 ÷ 𝟐
8+9
17 (CORRECT ANSWER)
 THE RULE – AN EXPLANATION
ADDITION / SUBTRACTION

Now, solve Addition or Subtraction, whichever

appears first from Left to Right –
8 +𝟑 − 2
11 - 𝟐
9
9 (CORRECT ANSWER)
 HOW TO REMEMBER IT ALL …?

B – Brackets first
O – Orders (i.e. Powers and square roots)
DM – Division and Multiplication (from Left to Right)
AM – Addition and Subtraction (from Left to Right)

 After you have done ‘B’ and ‘O’, just go

from left to right doing any Division or
Multiplication as you find them.
 Then go from Left to Right doing any
addition or subtraction, as you find
them.
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

3 3+7 2
÷5 BODMAS
2 Start with Brackets first and solve
3 3+7 ÷5 whatever is inside Brackets.

3 10 2
÷5
BODMAS
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

2 Now, calculate any exponents also

3(10) ÷ 5 called powers.

3(100) ÷ 5 BODMAS
Now, Multiply or Divide whichever
3(100) ÷ 5 comes first from left to right.
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

300 ÷ 5 BODMAS
Still, more Multiplying or Dividing
300 ÷ 5 from left to right.

60 SOLUTION
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

27 ÷ 3 5 − 3 2
BODMAS
2 Start with Brackets and solve
27 ÷ 3 5 − 3 whatever is inside Brackets.

27 ÷ 3 2 2
BODMAS
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

2 Now, calculate any exponents,

27 ÷ 3 2
also called Powers.

27 ÷ 3(4) BODMAS
Now, Multiply or Divide whichever
27 ÷ 3(4) comes first from left to right.
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

9(4)
BODMAS
Still, more Multiplying or Dividing
9(4) from left to right.

36 SOLUTION
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

36 ÷ 3 6 − 4 2
−4
BODMAS
2 Start with Brackets first and solve
36 ÷ 3 6 − 4 −4
whatever is inside Brackets.

36 ÷ 3 2 2
−4
BODMAS
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

36 ÷ 3 2 2
−4 Now, calculate any exponents,
also called Powers.

36 ÷ 3(4) − 4
BODMAS
Now, Multiply or Divide whichever
36 ÷ 3(4) − 4
comes first from left to right.
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

12(4) − 4
BODMAS
Still, more Multiplying or Dividing
12(4) − 4
from left to right.

48 − 4
BODMAS
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

48 − 4 Now, Add or Subtract whichever

comes first from left to right.

44 SOLUTION
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

5  32 – 6 + 2[14 – 3(2)]
BODMAS
Start with Innermost Brackets first
5  32 – 6 + 2[14 – 3(2)] & solve whatever is inside
innermost Brackets.

Next, solve whatever comes inside

5  32 – 6 + 2[14 – 6]
the next set of Brackets.
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

5  32 – 6 + 2[14 - 6]
BODMAS
5  32 – 6 + 2[ 8 ] BODMAS
Now, calculate any exponents,
5 32 – 6 + 2[ 8 ] also called Powers.
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

5  9 – 6 + 2[ 8 ]
BODMAS
Now, Multiply or Divide whichever
5  9 – 6 + 2[ 8 ] comes first from left to right.

45 – 6 + 2[ 8 ] BODMAS
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

Still, more Multiplying or Dividing

45 – 6 + 2[ 8 ]
from left to right.

45 – 6 + 16 BODMAS
Now, Add or Subtract whichever
45 – 6 + 16 comes first from left to right.
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

Still, more Addition or Subtraction

39 + 16
from left to right.

39 + 16 BODMAS
55 SOLUTION
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

12 − 2 × 3 When you see a fraction, there is

+ 62 invisible bracket around numerator
8÷2×2 and denominator, both.

(12 − 2 × 3)
(8 ÷ 2 × 2)
+62
BODMAS
(12 − 2 × 3) Now, as a thumb rule we need to
+ 62 first solve the (Numerator), and
(8 ÷ 2 × 2) then the (Denominator).
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

BODMAS
(12 − 2 × 3)
+ 62
(8 ÷ 2 × 2)
(12 − 2 × 3) 2 While simplifying the Numerator,
+6 we would first Multiply.
(8 ÷ 2 × 2)
(12 − 6)
(8 ÷ 2 × 2)
+ 62 BODMAS
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

(12 − 6) Now, Add or Subtract whichever

+ 62 comes first from left to right in
(8 ÷ 2 × 2) the Numerator.

(6) After solving the Numerator, next

2 solve the expression within the
+6
(8 ÷ 2 × 2) Brackets in the Denominator.
(6)
(8 ÷ 2 × 2)
+ 62 BODMAS
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

BODMAS
(6)
+ 62
(8 ÷ 2 × 2)
(6) Now, since Division comes before
2 Multiplication, from left to right,
+6
(8 ÷ 2 × 2) do Division, first.
(6)
+ 62 Next, do the multiplication.
(4 × 2)
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

BODMAS
(6)
+ 62
(8)
(6) 2 Now, calculate any exponents,
+6 also called Powers.
(8)

BODMAS
(6)
+36
(8)
 EXAMPLES – TO STRENGTHEN THE
UNDERSTANDING

(6) Now, reduce the fractional part

+ 36 to its lowest.
(8)
(3)
+ 36 And add to arrive at the solution.
(4)
63
SOLUTION
36