Topic Details (Notes format)

How to Evaluate Expressions Using Order of Operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS)

Subject: Mathematics

Book: Maths Mastery

PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction) or BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction) clarifies the sequence in which to tackle operations. For example, to evaluate 3 + 2 × (5 – 2)², start inside parentheses: (5 – 2) = 3, then exponents: 3² = 9, next multiplication: 2 × 9 = 18, and finally addition: 3 + 18 = 21. Following this strict hierarchy prevents confusion and ensures consistent results across all math problems. This concept underpins everything from basic arithmetic to advanced algebra, guaranteeing accurate calculations in daily life—like computing tax on multiple items or analyzing complex spreadsheet formulas.

Practice Questions

A sum of money doubles itself in 5 years at simple interest. What is the rate of interest?

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The probability of rolling a sum of 7 with two dice is:

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What is the area of a sector of a circle with radius 14 cm and central angle 90°?

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A number is increased by 20% and then decreased by 20%. What is the net change?

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What is the probability of drawing an ace from a standard deck of 52 cards?

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What is the cube root of 729?

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If sin(A) = 3/5 and cos(B) = 5/13, where A and B are acute angles, what is sin(A+B)?

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The probability of getting an even number when rolling a die is:

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The perimeter of a rectangle is 40 cm, and its length is 12 cm. What is its width?

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A sum triples in 20 years at simple interest. What is the rate of interest per annum?

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