Mwahahah!
Don’t panic, we just need to answer the calculation to open the door.
Something tells me that was not the correct answer.
But 12 minus nine is three, three divided by three is one, and one plus 12 is 13.
What’s gone wrong? The order of operations, of course! That’s the rule that tells you which bit of the calculation to do first.
Multiplication and division, left to right with much precision.
So, multiplication and division first, that’s nine divided by three, which is three. Then do the addition and all the subtraction, from left to right is the order of action.
Okay, addition and subtraction, from left to right, that’s 12 minus three which is nine. Then nine plus 12 is 21.
We did it! You’re free!
Good rhyme though, right?
The order of operations
From left to right, start with division and multiplication and continue with addition and subtraction.
Don't forget, if a calculation has division and multiplication in it, do them left to right. It doesn't matter which order they are in. The same applies to addition and subtraction.
Let's make it more difficult!
If there are brackets in the calculation, you must do the part inside the brackets first. It doesn't matter if it's division, multiplication, addition or subtraction.
You might know the order of operations as 'BODMAS', 'BIDMAS' or PEDMAS'.
More on Number and number processes
Find out more by working through a topic
- count16 of 25
- count17 of 25
- count18 of 25
- count19 of 25
