BODMAS - The rule of BODMAS

Outcomes
By the end of these activities you will be able to:
1. Explain what bodmas stands and state the order in which operations must be performed.
2. Apply bodmas to a variety of types of examples.
Activity one: Explain what bodmas stands for.
Bodmas stands for:
Brackets
Of
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction
Note well: of means multiply , therefore of 8 = x 8 = 2.
Activity two: Explain the order in which operations must be done
When you are doing examples like the following you must follow the rule of bodmas. According
to BODMAS you must do brackets first, then division, then multiplication, then addition and
subtraction.
When doing addition and subtraction it is best to go left to right.
In some examples the rule will be applied more than once.
Activity Three: Try these examples on your own.
1. of 2 + 2
2. 10 - ( 4 + 5) 3 - 2

3. ( + ) of 12 3 x 2 + 5 - 2

Examples
1. of 2 + 2 = 1 + 2 = 3
According to BODMAS you have to find of 2 first and then add thereafter.
= of 10 - (4 + 5) 3 - 2
= 10 - 9 3 - 2
According to bodmas you have to add in the brackets first.
= 10 - 3 - 2
In this step, we divide 9 by 3 and get 3. Bodmas applied
again.
=5
We add and subtract from left to right. Note well that the
answer 9 is wrong.

3. ( + ) of 12 3 x 2 + 5 - 2

In this example bodmas is applied 5 times !

= of 12 3 x 2 + 5 - 2
=6 3x2+5-2
=2x2+5-2
=4+5-2
=7
N.B. The rule of BOMDAS also applies [i.e. you may use bodmas or bomdas]
In the following exercise you are advised to try the first ten, master them (that is, get them
correct and then proceed to the remaining examples).

Activity four: Do the following exercises

1.

of 2 + 4 =

2.

of 12 - 8 =

3.

2 + 20 2 =

4.

8-3x2=

5.

4 ( 10 - 2 ) =

6.

10 - 3 x 2 =

7.

5 + 6 x 2 + (9 x - 2 ) =

8.

84-2x5=

9.

10 2 + 9 - 3 =

10. 12 - 8 + 5 x 2 =
11. ( + ) of 12 3 x 2 + 5 - 2 =
12. (1 - ) of 20 2 x 10 + 20 - 2 =

13. 11 - ( 5 - 1) + of 6 - 10 5 - 11 =
14. 11 - of 24 (5 + 1) x - 2 - 15 =
15. 5 - 10 x - 3 - 5 + 20 - 2 =
16. 17 - 5 x - 3 + of 4 - 18 =
17. - 11 - 5 ( 8 - 10 ) - of 40 =
18. ( + ) of 4/5 2/5 x 4/5 - 1/10 =
19. 3 - of 4/7 + 5/7 x 14/35 =
20. 3/5 x - + of - 1/8 5/8 =

Feedback
1. of 2 + 4

= 1+4 = 5

2.

of 12 - 8

=9-8=1

3.

2 + 20 2

= 2 + 10 = 12

4.

8-3x2

=8-6=2

5.

4 ( 10 - 2 )

=4(8)=

6.

10 - 3 x 2

= 10 - 6 = 4

7.

5 + 6 x 2 + (9 x - 2 )

= 5 + 6 x 2 + (-18 ) = 5 + 12 + (-18 ) = - 1

8.

84-2x5

= 2 - 10 = - 8

9.

10 2 + 9 - 3

= 5 + -3 = 2

10. 12 - 8 + 5 x 2

= 12 - 8 + 10 = 14

11. ( + ) of 12 3 x 2 + 5 - 2 = (1 ) of 12 3 x 2 + 5 - 2
= 5/4 x12 3 x 2 + 5 - 2
= 15 3 x 2 + 5 - 2
= 5x2 +5 - 2 = 10 + 5 - 2 = 13
12. (1 - ) of 20 2 x 10 + 20- 2

= ( ) of 20 2 x 10 + 20 - 2
=10 2 x 10 + 20 - 2
= 5 x 10 + 20 - 2 =50 + 20 - 2 = 68

13. 11 - ( 5 - 1) + of 6 - 10 5 - 11

= 11 - (4) + of 6 - 10 5 - 11
= 11 - (4) + 3 - 10 5 - 11
= 11 - (4) + 3 - 2 - 11
=-3

14. 11 - of 24 (5 + 1) x - 2 - 15

= 11 - of 24 (6) x - 2 - 15
= 11 - 18 (6) x - 2 - 15
= 11 - 3 x - 2 - 15
= 11 + 6 - 15 = 2

15. 5 - 10 x - 3 - 5 + 20 - 2

= 5 - 10 x - 3 - 5 + - 10
= 5 - 10 x - 3 - 5 + - 10
= 5 + 30 - 5 - 10 = 20

16. 17 - 5 x - 3 + of 4 - 18

= 17 - 5 x - 3 + 1 - 18
= 17 + 15 + 1 - 18 = 15

17. - 11 - 5 ( 8 - 10 ) - of 40

= - 11 - 5 ( -2 ) - of 40
= - 11 + 10 - 20 = - 21

18. ( + ) of 4/5 2/5 x 4/5 - 1/10

= ( 3/4 ) of 4/5 2/5 x 4/5 - 1/10

= 3/5 x 5/2 x 4/5 - 1/10
= 6/5 - 1/10 = 12/10 -1/10= 11/10 = 1 1/10

19. 3 - of 4/7 + 5/7 x 14/35

= 3 - 2/7 + 5/7 x 14/35 = 3 - 2/7 + 2/7 = 3

20. 3/5 x - + of - 1/8 5/8

= 3/5 x - + 3/8 - 1/8 5/8

= 3/5 x - + 3/8 - 1/5
= -3/10 + 3/8 - 1/5
= -12/40 + 15/40 - 8/40 = -5/40 = -1/8

References
Bradley, T 2008, Essential Mathematics for Economics and business, 3rd edition, West Sussex
England, John Wiley and Sons.
Unisa Learner Guide-Introductory Financial Mathematics, DSC1630, 2010, Pretoria, University
of South Africa.
Unisa Learner Guide-Elementary Quantitative Methods, QMI1500, 2010, Pretoria, University of
South Africa.
Unisa Learner Guide-Quantitative Modelling 1, DSC1520, 2010, Pretoria, University of South
Africa.
Unisa Learner Guide-Introduction to Economic and Management EnvironmentB, INM 102-4,
2007, Pretoria, University of South Africa.

Developed by: D.Kooblal (Roshan), Quantitative Literacy Facilitator, Unisa (Durban), June 2013