Situations arise every day where mathematics is very critical. Unfortunately, it is not always as simple as inclusion and subtraction, especially when performing several mathematical operations in sequence on a single number. For simple arithmetic, the operation’s order doesn’t really matter very much; however, for more difficult problems, errors are often made because incorrect operation’s order is followed. Fortunately, availability of some rules that govern which mathematical action surly be taken first in any given situation. These rules is famous as brackets, orders, division/multiplication, addition/subtraction (bodmas) rules.
BODMAS (brackets, orders, division/multiplication, addition/subtraction) is the operation’s order in mathematics. Bodmas is used for working out problems in arithmetic.
- The rule indicates that multiplication and division are performed before addition or subtraction. This means one can’t just inclusion or subtract things unless other things have already been multiplied or divided.
- Operators lower down in the bracket take priority over any others outside of it. An example would be 5+3*2. It should calculate to 11, which equals five plus three times two because 2*3=6, so 3 takes priority over * when doing the calculation inside the brackets.
- However, if there was a division in the brackets, it would be done first because division takes priority over multiplication. 5+3/2 should calculate to 4 because 5/2=2.5 & 3/2=1.5.
- When there is more than one set of brackets, the numbers inside them take turns getting calculated, so one can do the calculations from left to right, making sure that everything gets done properly at their turn before moving on.
- No matter what comes after an equal sign (=) in mathematics or algebra, one does not need to follow BODMAS because = takes priority and equals always get calculated first. This even applies if there is a division symbol (/) after the equal sign. It just means that whatever is on one side of the = has to be equal to whatever is on the other, so 1/2=4 would calculate as 1/(2*4)=1/8.
- The same works for addition and subtraction symbols (+ and -). If there is more than one side of an =, they get calculated from left to right like with brackets. 2+3-4 would become 5-(-1)=6 because the numbers on the right get calculated first, and then whatever is left moves to the equal sign.
- Another thing that BODMAS is used for in mathematics and algebra is brackets. One can do calculations inside brackets () no matter what order they are done in by following BODMAS to work out the answer. For example, if you had 3+2*3-1, it would become (3+2)*3-(1), which equals nine because * takes priority over + and – so the 2 gets multiplied with 3 before being added to one.
- One can also use it for inequalities such as >,<, >= and<=. With them, all you need to remember is that greater than > takes priority over< which takes priority over >=because it’s the same symbol but written sideways. Less than< takes priority over <=, which takes priority because it’s the same symbol but written sideways. If there are more than one of either > or< then they take turns getting worked out from left to right like everything else.
- Another thing with inequalities is that one can make them negative too by adding a minus symbol (-). 5<-2 would become 5<(-2)+(-2) . It gets calculated as 5<-4, which means five is not less than negative four.
- Bodmas teach students about zero pairs (negative numbers that add up to zero) and how fractions can be simplified by dividing both top and bottom by a common factor without actually cancelling anything.
So basically, BODMAS uses brackets for order of operations. Brackets are used to hide, or override the standard precedence rules; however, they do not alter the final result. It becomes effortless for the learner if he just uses Cuemath website for learning maths. Cuemath is the perfect solution for every maths query.