When a calculation has several steps, everyone needs to agree which to do first — otherwise the same sum gives different answers. The agreed order is: brackets, then multiplying and dividing, then adding and subtracting.
What your child will learn
- Do multiplication and division before addition and subtraction
- Work out anything in brackets first
- Explain why 3 + 4 × 5 is 23, not 35
Why the order matters
In 3 + 4 × 5, multiply first: 4 × 5 = 20, then 3 + 20 = 23. Working from left to right would give 35, which is wrong. Brackets change the order: (3 + 4) × 5 means add first, giving 7 × 5 = 35.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. What is 3 × 6 − 9?
Show answer
Answer: 9. Multiply first: 3 × 6 = 18. Then 18 − 9 = 9.
2. What is 9 + 8 × 3?
- 51
- 33
- 38
- 75
Show answer
Answer: 33. Multiply first: 8 × 3 = 24. Then 9 + 24 = 33.
3. What is 7 × 5 − 7?
- 14
- 42
- 18
- 28
Show answer
Answer: 28. Multiply first: 7 × 5 = 35. Then 35 − 7 = 28.
Tips for grown-ups
- Give the same calculation with and without brackets and compare the answers.
- Try a simple calculator and a scientific one on 3 + 4 × 5 — do they agree?