What is order of operations?

The order of operations tells you which part of a calculation to do first so everyone gets the same answer. Do anything in brackets first, then multiplication and division (left to right), then addition and subtraction (left to right). It is often remembered as BODMAS or PEMDAS.

Examples

• 2 + 3 × 4 = 2 + 12 = 14 (multiply before adding).
• (2 + 3) × 4 = 5 × 4 = 20 (brackets first).
• 6 + 8 ÷ 2 = 6 + 4 = 10.

Quick facts

• Without agreed rules, 2 + 3 × 4 could wrongly be read as 20.
• Multiplication and division rank equally, so you work them left to right.