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Outcomes: BODMAS - The Rule of BODMAS
Outcomes: BODMAS - The Rule of BODMAS
Outcomes
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.
1. ½ of 2 + 2 = 1 + 2 = 3
According to BODMAS you have to find ½ of 2 first and then add thereafter.
= ½ 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.
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).
1. ½ of 2 + 4 =
2. ¾ 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. 8÷4-2x5=
9. 10 ÷ 2 + 9 ÷ - 3 =
10. 12 - 8 + 5 x 2 =
11. ( ½ + ¾ ) of 12 ÷ 3 x 2 + 5 - 2 =
12. (1 - ½ ) of 20 ÷ 2 x 10 + 20 - 2 =
13. 11 - ( 5 - 1) + ½ of 6 - 10 ÷ 5 - 11 =
14. 11 - ¾ of 24 ÷ (5 + 1) x - 2 - 15 =
15. 5 - 10 x - 3 - 5 + 20 ÷ - 2 =
16. 17 - 5 x - 3 + ¼ of 4 - 18 =
17. - 11 - 5 ( 8 - 10 ) - ½ of 40 =
18. ( ½ + ¼ ) of 4/5 ÷ 2/5 x 4/5 - 1/10 =
19. 3 - ½ of 4/7 + 5/7 x 14/35 =
20. 3/5 x - ½ + ½ of ¾ - 1/8 ÷ 5/8 =
Feedback
1. ½ of 2 + 4 = 1+4 = 5
2. ¾ 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)=½
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. 8÷4-2x5 = 2 - 10 = - 8
9. 10 ÷ 2 + 9 ÷ - 3 = 5 + -3 = 2
10. 12 - 8 + 5 x 2 = 12 - 8 + 10 = 14
11. ( ½ + ¾ ) of 12 ÷ 3 x 2 + 5 - 2 = (1 ¼ ) 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 - ½ ) of 20 ÷ 2 x 10 + 20- 2 = (½ ) 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) + ½ of 6 - 10 ÷ 5 - 11 = 11 - (4) + ½ of 6 - 10 ÷ 5 - 11
= 11 - (4) + 3 - 10 ÷ 5 - 11
= 11 - (4) + 3 - 2 - 11
=-3
14. 11 - ¾ of 24 ÷ (5 + 1) x - 2 - 15 = 11 - ¾ 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 + ¼ of 4 - 18 = 17 - 5 x - 3 + 1 - 18
= 17 + 15 + 1 - 18 = 15
17. - 11 - 5 ( 8 - 10 ) - ½ of 40 = - 11 - 5 ( -2 ) - ½ of 40
= - 11 + 10 - 20 = - 21
18. ( ½ + ¼ ) 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 - ½ 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 - ½ + ½ of ¾ - 1/8 ÷ 5/8 = 3/5 x - ½ + 3/8 - 1/8 ÷ 5/8
= 3/5 x - ½ + 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