Year 6 Maths: BIDMAS

What is BIDMAS?

Hello Year 6! Today, we are going to learn about a special rule called BIDMAS. BIDMAS helps us remember the order in which we should solve math problems that have more than one operation.

What does BIDMAS stand for?

BIDMAS is an acronym that stands for:

• B – Brackets
• I – Indices (or Powers)
• D – Division
• M – Multiplication
• A – Addition
• S – Subtraction

Why is BIDMAS important?

Using BIDMAS is important because it helps us get the right answer when solving math problems. If we don’t follow these rules, we might end up with the wrong answer!

How to Use BIDMAS

Let’s break it down step by step:

1. Brackets: Always solve anything inside brackets first. For example, in the problem $$2 \times (3 + 5)$$ , you would first add 3 and 5 inside the brackets to get 8, and then multiply by 2 to get 16.
2. Indices: Next, solve any powers or indices. For example, in $$3^2$$ , you would calculate 3 times 3, which equals 9.
3. Division and Multiplication: After brackets and indices, do any division or multiplication from left to right. For example, in $$8 \div 2 \times 3$$ , you would first divide 8 by 2 to get 4, and then multiply 4 by 3 to get 12.
4. Addition and Subtraction: Finally, do any addition or subtraction, again from left to right. For example, in $$7 + 2 – 1$$ , you add 7 and 2 to get 9, then subtract 1 to get 8.

Tips and Tricks

• Use Brackets Wisely: If you see brackets, always do those calculations first.
• Remember Left to Right: For division and multiplication, and for addition and subtraction, you always work from left to right.
• Practice with Examples: The more you practice, the easier it will become!

Examples

Let’s look at a few examples together!

1. Example 1: $$6 + 2 \times 3$$
   • Step 1: Multiply first: $$2 \times 3 = 6$$
   • Step 2: Add: $$6 + 6 = 12$$
2. Example 2: $$4 \times (5 – 2) + 3^2$$
   • Step 1: Inside brackets: $$5 – 2 = 3$$
   • Step 2: Multiply: $$4 \times 3 = 12$$
   • Step 3: Calculate powers: $$3^2 = 9$$
   • Step 4: Add: $$12 + 9 = 21$$
3. Example 3: $$10 – (2 + 3) \times 2$$
   • Step 1: Inside brackets: $$2 + 3 = 5$$
   • Step 2: Multiply: $$5 \times 2 = 10$$
   • Step 3: Subtract: $$10 – 10 = 0$$

Practice Questions

Easy Level (20 Questions)

1. $$3 + 4 \times 2$$
2. $$5 – 2 + 3$$
3. $$6 \div 2 + 1$$
4. $$8 – 3 + 2$$
5. $$10 + 2 \times 3$$
6. $$7 + 3 – 4$$
7. $$5 \times 2 + 10$$
8. $$4 + 6 \div 2$$
9. $$2 + 2 + 2$$
10. $$9 – 4 + 1$$
11. $$6 + 3 – 2$$
12. $$10 \div 2 + 5$$
13. $$8 – 5 + 3$$
14. $$1 + 1 + 1 + 1$$
15. $$12 – 4 \times 1$$
16. $$15 – 3 + 1$$
17. $$4 + 4 + 4$$
18. $$2 \times 3 + 1$$
19. $$5 + 5 – 5$$
20. $$9 – 3 + 2$$

Medium Level (20 Questions)

1. $$2 \times (3 + 4)$$
2. $$5 + 2 \times 3 – 1$$
3. $$10 – (4 + 2)$$
4. $$4 + 6 \div 3$$
5. $$3^2 + 4$$
6. $$8 \div 2 + 3 \times 4$$
7. $$12 \div (4 – 2)$$
8. $$2 + (3 \times 2)$$
9. $$5 \times (2 + 3)$$
10. $$7 + 2^2$$
11. $$6 + (2 + 2) \times 3$$
12. $$(5 + 5) \div 2$$
13. $$10 – (2 + 3) \times 2$$
14. $$3 \times 3 + 3$$
15. $$2 \times (5 – 1) + 1$$
16. $$2^3 + 4$$
17. $$(6 + 2) \div 2$$
18. $$8 – 2 \times (1 + 1)$$
19. $$5 + (3 + 2) \times 2$$
20. $$9 – (3 \div 1)$$

Hard Level (20 Questions)

1. $$6 + 2 \times (3 + 4) – 5$$
2. $$5^2 – (3 \times 2)$$
3. $$10 – (2^2 + 1)$$
4. $$7 \times 2 – 5 + 4$$
5. $$8 + (3^2 – 1) \div 2$$
6. $$4 \times (5 – 3) + 6$$
7. $$2^3 + (4 + 2)$$
8. $$12 – (3 + 3) \times 2$$
9. $$10 + (2 \times 3 – 1)$$
10. $$9 + 6 \div (3 + 3)$$
11. $$5 \times (4 – 2^2)$$
12. $$3 + (2 + 1)^2$$
13. $$15 – (4 + 2) \times 2$$
14. $$6 \div 2 + 2^2 – 1$$
15. $$4 + (5 – 2) \times 3$$
16. $$2^2 + 5 – (3 + 1)$$
17. $$3 \times (2 + 5) – 10$$
18. $$8 – 3 + (6 \div 2)$$
19. $$2 \times (3 + 3) + 4$$
20. $$(5 + 5) \div 2 + 3^2$$

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

1. 11
2. 6
3. 4
4. 7
5. 16
6. 6
7. 20
8. 7
9. 6
10. 6
11. 7
12. 10
13. 6
14. 4
15. 8
16. 13
17. 12
18. 7
19. 5
20. 8

Medium Level Answers

1. 14
2. 10
3. 4
4. 8
5. 13
6. 14
7. 6
8. 8
9. 25
10. 11
11. 20
12. 10
13. 4
14. 12
15. 9
16. 12
17. 4
18. 4
19. 13
20. 6

Hard Level Answers

1. 15
2. 1
3. 7
4. 10
5. 23
6. 14
7. 6
8. 0
9. 13
10. 1
11. 0
12. 12
13. 3
14. 5
15. 13
16. 1
17. 9
18. 5
19. 16
20. 10

Now, you have learned about BIDMAS and practiced with some questions! Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be a BIDMAS expert!