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 number is increased by 20% and then decreased by 10%. What is the net change?

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

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

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The area of an equilateral triangle with side length 6 cm is:

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If the ratio of two numbers is 3:5 and their HCF is 4, what are the numbers?

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The ratio of two numbers is 3:5, and their sum is 64. What are the numbers?

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If a cone has a radius of 5 cm and a height of 12 cm, what is its slant height?

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A square is inscribed in a circle with a radius of 5 cm. What is the area of the square?

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What is the sum of the first 10 positive even numbers?

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If the sum of the squares of two consecutive positive integers is 365, what are the integers?

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