---
title: "Order of operations"
description: "Understand and apply the conventional order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS) to carry out calculations involving the four operations"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/order-of-operations-mt_jHgRQ4hR0g
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/order-of-operations-mt_jHgRQ4hR0g.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

> **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants.
> When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md
> API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md
> Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt
> Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json
> Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`.

# Order of operations

Understand and apply the conventional order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS) to carry out calculations involving the four operations

Subject: Mathematics · Area: Multiplication & Division · Ages 10 to 11
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/order-of-operations-mt_jHgRQ4hR0g

## Ready when they can

- Explain why 8 + 2 × 5 = 18 (not 50) by referencing multiplication before addition
- Evaluate a multi-step expression like 12 ÷ 3 + 4 × 2 correctly as 12
- State the correct order: brackets, then orders/exponents, then multiplication/division (L→R), then addition/subtraction (L→R)

## Lesson: Order of operations

A receipt adds up 8 + 2 × 5 to work out your shopping total. Get the order wrong and you could be charged the wrong amount. You already know brackets get solved first, but this problem has none at all, so working left to right won't give the right answer.

*(drawing: Follow this order every time: brackets first, then multiply or divide, then add or subtract.)*

**Example.** Look at 8 + 2 × 5. Multiply first: 2 × 5 = 10. Then add: 8 + 10 = 18. The answer is 18, not 50.

**Example.** Now try 12 ÷ 3 + 4 × 2. Do the division and multiplication first: 12 ÷ 3 = 4, and 4 × 2 = 8. Then add: 4 + 8 = 12.

**Tip.** Multiplication and division always come before addition and subtraction. If there are two of the same type, work left to right.

**Recap.** Multiply and divide before you add or subtract, working left to right.

## Practice

18 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Brackets in Expressions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/brackets-in-expressions-mt_8jFSnXxqQD)

## Opens up

- [Writing Algebraic Equations](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/writing-algebraic-equations-mt_i9rJbuFO3p)
- [Using Simple Formulae](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/using-simple-formulae-mt_Jvg8X0N5u0)
- [Multi-step problems: choosing operations](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/multi-step-problems-choosing-operations-mt_RXnyhCRYXA)
- [Using inverse operations](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/using-inverse-operations-mt_VUQNveSYjQ)
- [Order of operations with powers and roots](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/order-of-operations-with-powers-and-roots-mt_X5cypSGoGU)