Core Arithmetic

Order of Operations & Equations

Solve equations and master BODMAS/PEMDAS with nested operations step-by-step.

Lessons included in this chapter:

• What is BODMAS?: Brackets → Orders → Division/Multiplication (left to right) → Addition/Subtraction (left to right).
• Why BODMAS Matters: Every device and program applies this sequential hierarchy. It guarantees exactly one outcome.
• The Step-by-Step Order Table: 1: Brackets, 2: Powers, 3: Div/Mult (equal priority!), 4: Add/Sub (equal priority!).
• Brackets — Always First: Brackets act as isolated mini-calculations. Round brackets, square boxes, and curly braces.
• Orders — Powers and Roots: A square like 6² or root like √36 takes higher priority than multiplication.
• Division & Multiplication Priority: When both division and multiplication appear, solve strictly from left to right.
• Addition & Subtraction Priority: Proceed strictly from left to right to prevent negative sign distribution bugs.
• Solving Linear Equations: Undo operations: addition becomes subtraction, multiplication becomes division.