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Mathematics Summary
Topic: Order of Operations — BODMAS
1BODMAS Order
- 1. B — Brackets
- 2. O — Orders
- 3. D — Division
- 4. M — Multiplication
- 5. A — Addition
- 6. S — Subtraction
2What Each Letter Means
| Letter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| B — Brackets | Complete calculations inside brackets first. |
| O — Orders | Complete powers, indices, roots and exponents. |
| D — Division | Complete division from left to right. |
| M — Multiplication | Complete multiplication from left to right. |
| A — Addition | Complete addition from left to right. |
| S — Subtraction | Complete subtraction from left to right. |
3Equal Priority Rules
- ÷ and × have equal priority — work from left to right.
- + and − have equal priority — work from left to right.
- Do whichever operation appears first from the left.
- Division does not always come before multiplication.
- Addition does not always come before subtraction.
4How to Memorise Quickly
- 1. Memorise the six BODMAS letters.
- 2. Connect each letter to its operation.
- 3. Learn the four priority levels.
- 4. Remember that division and multiplication share a level.
- 5. Remember that addition and subtraction share a level.
- 6. Always scan the expression before calculating.
5Recall and Warnings
| Section | Key Recall |
|---|---|
| Operation Priority | Brackets → Orders → Division and Multiplication → Addition and Subtraction |
| BODMAS Memory Phrase | Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction |
| Mnemonic | Big Owls Drink Milk After Sunset |
| 3-Minute Recall Routine | 1 min: say BODMAS aloud; 1 min: recall each meaning; 1 min: repeat the left-to-right rule |
| Remember Faster | Brackets first; powers and roots before basic operations; scan the full expression; write one step at a time |
| Do Not Forget | BODMAS controls calculation order, not reading order; left-to-right decides within equal priority |
Quick Tip
Before calculating, scan the whole expression and identify the highest-priority operation first.