Watch the following video to explore BEDMAS (or sometimes referred to as PEDMAS) which means:
- Brackets (Parentheses)
- Exponents
- Division
- Multiplication
- Addition
- Subtraction
BEDMAS is used to help solve equations in the correct order. Writing out each step along the way ensures that you are not missing any pieces of information and it helps to show your thinking!
When you have a question with several different operations such as multiplication and addition, you need to follow a specific order. Anything in brackets is done first. This is followed by exponents, then multiplication/division, and finally addition/subtraction.
The same order is used for decimals as for whole numbers.
What about this equation: 6.1 + 2 x 7.3 – 8 = ?
Which operation would you do first? Since there are no brackets or exponents, we would start with multiplication or division, beginning on the left. Therefore you would begin with 2 x 7.3. Once you have that product, you can do the addition/subtraction, left to right.
6.1 + 14.5 – 8 = 20.6 – 8 = 12.6
Reviewing the Rules:
- Do whatever operations are in the brackets first
- Simplify Exponents
- Multiply/Divide from left to right
- Add/Subtract from left to right