Mathematical Operations • Topic 1 of 4

BODMAS-based Operations

Apply the order of operations strictly: brackets first, then orders (powers/roots), then division and multiplication left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right. Insert mental brackets around every × and ÷ before touching + and −.

The BODMAS ladder

B — Brackets ( ) O — Orders (powers, √) D M — ÷ and × A S — + and − do last
Work top to bottom. ÷ and × share a rung (left to right); + and − share the last rung.
Bracket the × and ÷ first. Reading "8 + 4 × 2" left to right gives 24 (wrong). Do ×/÷ first: 4×2 = 8, then 8 + 8 = 16. SSC sets traps exactly here.

✅ Solved examples

1. Evaluate 8 + 4 × 2.
Multiply first: 4×2=8, then 8+8 = 16.
2. Evaluate 12 ÷ 4 + 3 × 2.
3 + 6 = 9.
3. Evaluate (6 + 2) × 3.
Brackets: 8 × 3 = 24.
4. Evaluate 20 − 6 ÷ 2.
6÷2=3, 20−3 = 17.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. 5 + 6 × 2
× first.
5+12.
—
17
2. 18 ÷ 3 + 4
÷ first.
6+4.
—
10
3. (7 + 3) × 2
Brackets.
10×2.
—
20
4. 24 − 8 ÷ 4
÷ first.
24−2.
—
22
5. 3 × 4 + 5 × 2
Each × first.
12+10.
—
22

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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