What is BIDMAS?
Bidmas is the memory aid used to work out which order mathematical calculations should be completed in:
The above is the order you complete any calculation.
| Brackets | - | ( ) |
| Indices | - | To the power e.g. |
| `3^3=3times3times3` or `sqrt9=9^(1/2)=3` | ||
| Division | - | Divide |
| Multiplication | - | Multiply |
| Addition | - | Add |
| Subtraction | - | Take away |
Example 1
`30-:-5+4times-2+14`
| Stage 1 | - | Division | `30-:-5` | `=` | `-6` | Therefore | `-6+4times-2+14` |
| Stage 2 | - | Multiplication | `4times-2` | `=` | `-8` | Therefore | `-6-8+14` |
| Stage 3 | - | Addition | `-8+14` | `=` | `6` | Therefore | `-6+6` |
| Final stage | - | Subtraction | `-6+6` | `=` | `0` |
Example 2
`(4times5)^2+2times2^2`
| Stage 1 | - | Brackets | `4times5` | `=` | `20` | Therefore | `20^2+2times2^2` |
| Stage 2 | - | Indices | `20^2=400` | and | `2^2=4` | Therefore | `400+2times4` |
| Stage 3 | - | Multiplication | `2times4` | `=` | `8` | Therefore | `400+8` |
| Final stage | - | Addition | `400+8` | `=` | `408` |
Example 3
What is `x`?
`4times4+4times4+4-4times4=x`
| Stage 1 | - | Multiplication | `4times4=16` | and | `-4times4=-16` | Therefore | `16+16+4-16` |
| Stage 2 | - | Addition | `16+16+4` | `=` | `36` | Therefore | `36-16` |
| Final stage | - | Subtraction | `36-16` | `=` | `20` | Therefore | `x=20` |
Example 4
`6-:2(1+2)`
| Stage 1 | - | Brackets | `1+2` | `=` | `3` | Therefore | `6-:2times3` |
| Stage 2 | - | Division | `6-:2` | `=` | `3` | Therefore | `3times3` |
| Final stage | - | Multiplication | `3times3` | `=` | `9` |
