What is BODMAS?

What is BODMAS?

Have you ever seen an equation with all the math operations, like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, in the same problem? It can be confusing to figure out where to start, right? That’s where BODMAS comes to the rescue!

What Does BODMAS Stand For?

BODMAS is an acronym, where each letter stands for a specific operation in math. Here’s what it means:

• B - Brackets (Solve what’s inside the brackets first)

• O - Orders (Solve powers or roots like squares and square roots)

• D - Division

• M - Multiplication

• A - Addition

• S - Subtraction

The order of these letters tells us the sequence we need to follow when solving math problems.

Why Do We Use BODMAS?

When there are multiple operations in a math problem, solving them in the wrong order can lead to the wrong answer. BODMAS gives us a clear set of rules so everyone can get the same correct result.

Example to Understand BODMAS

Let’s solve this simple math problem:

8 + 2 × 3

If we solve it left to right without BODMAS, we might do:

• 8 + 2 = 10

• 10 × 3 = 30 (This is incorrect!)

Using BODMAS, we know multiplication comes before addition:

• First, solve 2 × 3 = 6

• Then, add 8 + 6 = 14 (This is the correct answer!)

Let’s Try a Problem With Brackets

(5 + 3) × 2

Using BODMAS:

• Solve the bracket first: (5 + 3) = 8

• Then multiply: 8 × 2 = 16

If we skipped the brackets, we might solve it incorrectly as:

• 3 × 2 = 6, then add 5 + 6 = 11 (This is wrong!)

Fun Ways to Practice BODMAS

1. Interactive Games: Use online math games that involve solving BODMAS problems.

2. Flashcards: Create flashcards with problems for kids to solve in the correct order.

3. Real-Life Examples: Ask questions like, “If you buy 3 packs of chocolates costing Rs.2 each and add a Rs.5 gift wrap, how much do you spend in total?”