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Order of operations

CONCEPTUAL
MathematicsMultiplication & Division|Ages 10—11|ID: mt_jHgRQ4hR0g

Understand and apply the conventional order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS) to carry out calculations involving the four operations

Mastery Evidence

  • Explain why 8 + 2 × 5 = 18 (not 50) by referencing multiplication before addition
  • Evaluate a multi-step expression like 12 ÷ 3 + 4 × 2 correctly as 12
  • State the correct order: brackets, then orders/exponents, then multiplication/division (L→R), then addition/subtraction (L→R)

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] sees '8 + 4 × 3', do they get 20 — not 36 — because they know to do the multiplication before the addition?”

Curriculum Standards1 alignment

Ma6/2.2fThe national curriculum in England
Order of operations

Use their knowledge of the order of operations to carry out calculations involving the four operations.

Mathematics · Key stage 2

Prerequisites1

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