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BIDMAS: brackets, indices (powers), then divide and multiply, then add and subtract. Not left to right.
Question 1 of 12
Work out 4 + 7² × 2.
The power comes first: 7² = 49. Then multiply: 49 × 2 = 98. Finally add: 4 + 98 = 102. Working straight across from left to right would give 242, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Underline the part that has to be done first before writing anything. It stops the left-to-right habit.
The answer is A. The power comes first: 7² = 49. Then multiply: 49 × 2 = 98. Finally add: 4 + 98 = 102. Working straight across from left to right would give 242, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Underline the part that has to be done first before writing anything. It stops the left-to-right habit.
Work out 11 + 3 × 6 − 8.
Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 3 × 6 = 18 is done first. Then 11 + 18 = 29, and 29 − 8 = 21. Working straight across from left to right would give 76, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
The answer is A. Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 3 × 6 = 18 is done first. Then 11 + 18 = 29, and 29 − 8 = 21. Working straight across from left to right would give 76, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
Work out (12 + 2) × 3 − 8.
Brackets first: 12 + 2 = 14. Then multiply: 14 × 3 = 42. Then subtract: 42 − 8 = 34. Working straight across from left to right would give 10, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. A calculator would get this right automatically, which is precisely why papers ask it on paper.
The answer is D. Brackets first: 12 + 2 = 14. Then multiply: 14 × 3 = 42. Then subtract: 42 − 8 = 34. Working straight across from left to right would give 10, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. A calculator would get this right automatically, which is precisely why papers ask it on paper.
Work out (12 + 3) × 7 − 11.
Brackets first: 12 + 3 = 15. Then multiply: 15 × 7 = 105. Then subtract: 105 − 11 = 94. Working straight across from left to right would give 22, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
The answer is A. Brackets first: 12 + 3 = 15. Then multiply: 15 × 7 = 105. Then subtract: 105 − 11 = 94. Working straight across from left to right would give 22, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
Work out 3 + 5² × 7.
The power comes first: 5² = 25. Then multiply: 25 × 7 = 175. Finally add: 3 + 175 = 178. Working straight across from left to right would give 448, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
The answer is A. The power comes first: 5² = 25. Then multiply: 25 × 7 = 175. Finally add: 3 + 175 = 178. Working straight across from left to right would give 448, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
Work out 11 + 6 × 5 − 6.
Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 6 × 5 = 30 is done first. Then 11 + 30 = 41, and 41 − 6 = 35. Working straight across from left to right would give 79, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
The answer is D. Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 6 × 5 = 30 is done first. Then 11 + 30 = 41, and 41 − 6 = 35. Working straight across from left to right would give 79, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
Work out 6 + 4 × 9 − 2.
Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 4 × 9 = 36 is done first. Then 6 + 36 = 42, and 42 − 2 = 40. Working straight across from left to right would give 88, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Underline the part that has to be done first before writing anything. It stops the left-to-right habit.
The answer is C. Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 4 × 9 = 36 is done first. Then 6 + 36 = 42, and 42 − 2 = 40. Working straight across from left to right would give 88, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Underline the part that has to be done first before writing anything. It stops the left-to-right habit.
Work out 8 + 2 × 7 − 12.
Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 2 × 7 = 14 is done first. Then 8 + 14 = 22, and 22 − 12 = 10. Working straight across from left to right would give 58, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
The answer is A. Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 2 × 7 = 14 is done first. Then 8 + 14 = 22, and 22 − 12 = 10. Working straight across from left to right would give 58, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
Work out 10 + 2² × 6.
The power comes first: 2² = 4. Then multiply: 4 × 6 = 24. Finally add: 10 + 24 = 34. Working straight across from left to right would give 864, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
The answer is A. The power comes first: 2² = 4. Then multiply: 4 × 6 = 24. Finally add: 10 + 24 = 34. Working straight across from left to right would give 864, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
Work out 3 + 8 × 3 − 5.
Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 8 × 3 = 24 is done first. Then 3 + 24 = 27, and 27 − 5 = 22. Working straight across from left to right would give 28, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Underline the part that has to be done first before writing anything. It stops the left-to-right habit.
The answer is B. Multiplication comes before adding and subtracting, so 8 × 3 = 24 is done first. Then 3 + 24 = 27, and 27 − 5 = 22. Working straight across from left to right would give 28, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Underline the part that has to be done first before writing anything. It stops the left-to-right habit.
Work out 3 + 2² × 5.
The power comes first: 2² = 4. Then multiply: 4 × 5 = 20. Finally add: 3 + 20 = 23. Working straight across from left to right would give 125, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
The answer is D. The power comes first: 2² = 4. Then multiply: 4 × 5 = 20. Finally add: 3 + 20 = 23. Working straight across from left to right would give 125, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
Work out (10 + 2) × 4 − 10.
Brackets first: 10 + 2 = 12. Then multiply: 12 × 4 = 48. Then subtract: 48 − 10 = 38. Working straight across from left to right would give 8, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
The answer is B. Brackets first: 10 + 2 = 12. Then multiply: 12 × 4 = 48. Then subtract: 48 − 10 = 38. Working straight across from left to right would give 8, which is the wrong answer and the one this question is testing for. Brackets, then powers, then × and ÷, then + and −. Multiplication and division rank equally, as do addition and subtraction.
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