BODMAS (UK) / PEMDAS (US)

Apart from the different abbreviations and the order of two of the letters, the two systems are basically
the same with idea to simplify the order of operations. The first and foremost important thing to know is
the meaning of each letter in the abbreviations. Already in this introduction stage, misconception exists.

B – Bracket, O – Order, D – Division, M – Multiplication, A – Addition, S – Subtraction

P – Parenthesis, E – Exponent, M – Multiplication, D – Division, A – Addition, S – Subtraction

The letter ‘O’ in BODMAS is sometimes used to denote ‘of’. Not to say that this is wrong, but people
tend to confuse the ‘of’ as multiplication. Instead, the ‘of’ should be denoting ‘the power of’ something,
meaning indices, i.e. square, square roots etc. The US version of PEMDAS makes use of letter ‘E’ for
exponent which is self-explanatory, i.e. square, square roots etc.

Now, comparing the two systems, we see that the orders of Division and Multiplication in each are
different. Since we’ve been taught using the UK method, is the US method wrong?

In actual facts, the division does not necessarily take precedence over multiplication nor does
multiplication necessarily take precedence over division. Both the division and multiplication are ranked
equally. Their orders of operation are determined by whichever comes first going from left to right in a
given equation (Even this is not entirely true, which are to be explained in the following examples).
Likewise, the same can be said about addition and subtraction.

Order of Operation

Generalised rules for orders of operation:

1. Working from left to right

2. Any working inside bracket must be done first
3. When doing the working out, first find any powers, then do any multiplying and dividing, and
finally do any adding and subtracting.

Working with the easier example first, addition and subtraction:

Addition and Subtraction

E.g. 1. 2 + 5 − 4

Working from left to right, we would do addition first followed by subtraction: 2 + 5 − 4 = 7 − 4 = 3.

Now, if we were to ignore the first rule in the generalisation, and we do the subtraction first then the
addition, we would arrive at the same answer: 2 + 5 − 4 = 2 + 1 = 3. So does that mean the rules are
wrong? Let’s try another example.

E.g. 2. 4 − 3 + 6
Again working left to right: 4 − 3 + 6 = 1 + 6 = 7. If we ignore the rule and proceed with addition first,
then: 4 − 3 + 6 = 4 + 3 = 7. *Note: it is −3 + 6 = 3, not 3 + 6 = 9. So even ignoring the left to right
rule, we could arrive at the same answer, provided that we are cautious with the sign of the numbers.
Try other examples involving addition and subtraction and you’ll find the same answer whichever
operation you decide to do first.

Multiplication and Division

Examples with multiplication and division:

E.g. 3. 3 × 6 ÷ 2

Going from left to right, we do the multiplication first followed by the division: 3 × 6 ÷ 2 = 18 ÷ 2 = 9.
If you do the division first followed by the multiplication, you would arrive at the same answer:
3 × 6 ÷ 2 = 3 × 3 = 9.

E.g. 4. 6 ÷ 2 × 3 (OK, I know this is just a rearrangement of the previous one, but bear with me.)

From left to right: 6 ÷ 2 × 3 = 3 × 3 = 9. Following the same drill, now we do the multiplication first
ignoring their order: 6 ÷ 2 × 3 = 6 ÷ 6 = 1?? Why is it this time it does not follow all the previous
examples?

In simple words, in the first method of e.g. 4, we are only dividing by the number 2, which is in fraction
term, the denominator is only 2. But in the second method, we are dividing by the product of 2 and 3,
which is 6. We are handling the equation 6 ÷ 2 × 3 as if it was written as 6 ÷ 2 × 3 which is now
wrong.

Proving of this can be somewhat confusing at first, but I will try to simplify it. Personally, the division
operation is my obstacle in these examples. So from now on, I will deal with division operation as if it
were simply a multiplication operation and the inverted number. Confuse? Here’s some example:

8 ÷ 4 → 8 × , 15 ÷ 3 → 15 × , 24 ÷ 6 → 24 × . You get the picture now right?

Now, using the same examples in e.g. 3 and 4, but instead of using division operation, we make use of
only the multiplication operation and the inverted number.

E.g. 3a. 3 × 6 ×

Now, since we’re dealing with all multiplication, simplest is to multiply in order, or not if you wishes it.
We should arrive at the same answer, 9.

E.g. 4a. 6 × × 3 = 9

Isn’t that straightforward enough?

Conclusion, the left to right rule of doing order of operation are redundant if you understood your
concept fully. It is there just to make it easy for us to learn it. As long as you know that you have to do;
Bracket, then exponents, followed by multiplication/division and finally addition/subtraction.

On to the next bit, brackets and/or parenthesis.

Brackets/Parenthesis

The B in BODMAS and P in PEMDAS are first in the rules of order of operation, and are denoted for
brackets and parenthesis respectively. This means that, whatever operation is in the
brackets/parenthesis, it should be carried out first.

Addition and Subtraction

Method 1 – doing operation inside bracket

E.g. 5. 2 + 3 + 5 × 2 = 2 + 8 × 2 = 2 + 16 = 18

E.g. 6. 4 + 6 8 + 2 − 3 = 4 + 6 10 − 3 = 4 + 60 − 3 = 61

E.g. 7. 100 − 10 2 + 3 + 4 = 100 − 10 5 + 4 = 100 − 50 + 4 = 54

Again, it’s that easy. But then, the bracket/parenthesis rule is just there to make our life easier when we
started learning. Now, what if we were to expand the bracket, we could arrive at the same answer
provided our workings are correct.

Method 2 – expansion of bracket

E.g. 6a. 4 + 6 8 + 2 − 3

By expanding the bracket, we obtain: 4 + 6 × 8 + 6 × 2 − 3. Working out the operation inside the
bracket is comparatively easier than expanding, but we should arrive at the same answer. Following the
rules for order of operation: 4 + 6 × 8 + 6 × 2 − 3 = 4 + 48 + 12 − 3 = 61.

E.g. 7a. 100 − 10 2 + 3 + 4

Again by expansion and applying the rule afterwards we get:

100 − 10 2 + 3 + 4 = 100 + −10 × 2 − 10 × 3 + 4 = 100 − 20 − 30 + 4 = 54.

I know from the previous examples, we’re only dealing with additions and subtractions with parenthesis,
but the same could be done to prove for multiplication and division. Either by doing the operation inside
the bracket or by expansion, the same answer can be found.
Multiplication and Division

Method 1 - doing operation inside bracket:

E.g. 8. 30 × 3 4 + 1 = 30 × 3 5 . This is the same as 30 × 3 × 5 = 450

E.g. 9. 30 ÷ 3 4 + 1 = 30 ÷ 3 5 , which is also the same as 30 ÷ 3 × 5. Now, doing this in order from
left to right is quiet straightforward: 30 ÷ 3 × 5 = 10 × 5 = 50. If you want to ignore the left to right
rule, then remember to change the division operation into a multiplication and invert the number as
before. 30 ÷ 3 4 + 1 = 30 × 4 + 1 . Then by doing the operation inside the bracket, we’d get:
30 × 5 which can be written as 30 × × 5 = 30 × = 50

Method 2 – expansion of bracket:

E.g. 8a. 30 × 3 4 + 1 = 30 × 3 × 4 + 3 × 1 = 30 × 12 + 30 × 3 = 360 + 90 = 450

Again, when working with division operator, simpler is to change it into a multiplication of the inverted
number.

E.g. 9a. 30 ÷ 3 4 + 1 = 30 × 4 + 1 = 30 × × 4 + × 1 = 30 × + 30 × = 40 + 10 = 50

Conclusion: No matter which method you use to do brackets, provided you did everything correctly, the
same answer can always be calculated.

So the BODMAS is only there to serve us as a guideline to make our operation simpler. Even when you
do not conform to it completely, you can still arrive at the correct junction. I know there’s too much
here that I’ve discussed, so if you want to make it easier, just follow the rules of order of operation.

GOLDEN QUESTIONS

48 ÷ 2 9 + 3

By following the rules of going from left to right and BODMAS:

48 ÷ 2 9 + 3 = 48 ÷ 2 12 which can be written as 48 ÷ 2 × 12 = 24 × 12 = 288.

Or by expansion of the bracket:

1 1 1 9 3
48 ÷ 2 9 + 3 = 48 × 9 + 3 = 48 × × 9 + × 3 = 48 × + 48 × = 216 + 72 = 288
2 2 2 2 2