11 Plus Exams Forum

help as dh and I can't agree on these. Really grateful as trying to get head around this before having another go at explaining.
P.S. when did BODMAS get invented as Dh as A level maths and just says the questions all need brackets. Thanks so much

The Question asks student to indicate which of the following are correct

22-7 x = 45
makes no sense so wrong?

10 x 2 + 7 x 7 = 69
correct or is this 27 x7 ?

12 +3 x 7-3 = 30
Various possibilities
15 x 4 so wrong?
15 x 7 then minus 3 so wrong?
21 +12 -3 so correct?

30 ÷ 3 + 2 = 6
Wrong as anwer is 12?
Or right as is 30 divided by 5?

24 ÷ 4-3 x 2 = 0
Divide first so
6-3x2 is 3 x2 =6 so wrong
or multiply so correct as 6-6 is 0
or wrong as 6-3x2 =6

I was doing bodmas at school in the 80s, for O level.

BODMAS was around when I did maths in the 80s.... You would only need to put brackets in if you wanted to process the numbers in a different way, ie to add/subtract sections BEFORE multiplying. Without brackets, BODMAS order apples.

I would say 2&3 are correct.

BODMAS is very old and was around when I was at school.

2 and 3 are correct and I think the last one.

24 ÷ 4-3 x 2 = 0

Divide

6 - 3 x 2

Multiply

6 - 6

Hi,

22-7 x = 45
I think you are right, times what? It doesn't make sense. Odd question?

10 x 2 + 7 x 7 is the same as (10 x 2) + (7 x 7) since you have to do the multiplications before you add anything together. So you get 20 + 49 = 69. It's correct.

12 + 3 x 7 - 3 for this again the multiplication part has to be done first, so it's the same as 12 + (3 x 7) - 3 = 12 + 21 - 3 = 33 - 3 = 30 so again correct.

30 divided by 3 + 2 is the same as (30 divided by 3) + 2 = 10 + 2 = 12. Again, the division needs to be done ahead of the addition. So wrong (sorry my keyboard doesn't have the divided sign).

24 divided by 4 - 3 x 2 Again, the multiplication and the division have to be done ahead of the subtraction, so the maths sentence can be written as (24/4)-(3x2)=6-6=0. So this one is also correct.

The brackets aren't necessary to write an accurate maths sentence in each case, but it's normal to have the brackets written in to make it very clear.

It helps to use BIDMAS rather than the BODMAS we were taught in my school/university.
B brackets
I indices
D division
M multiplication
A addition
S subtraction

Hope this is helpful!

Think your husband is pulling your leg vickyconfused!

Thanks All. And, mystery, maybe being legless is the only way to stay sane !