# 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