Order of Operations for Kids: BEDMAS Made Easy (Grade 6 Math)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are learning the order of operations. When a problem has lots of steps, everyone must follow the same order, or we would all get different answers.

Look at three plus four times two. Going left to right, three plus four is seven, times two is fourteen. But that is wrong! Multiplying comes before adding. Four times two is eight, plus three is eleven.

In Canada we remember the order with the word BEDMAS. Brackets first, then exponents, then division and multiplication, and last, addition and subtraction. Work through it from top to bottom.

Division and multiplication are a team, so do them left to right. The same goes for addition and subtraction. For twenty minus eight plus three, go left to right. Twenty minus eight is twelve, plus three is fifteen.

Brackets change the order. Now put three plus four inside brackets, then times two. The brackets go first. Three plus four is seven. Then seven times two is fourteen. Brackets can change the answer!

Let's try a big one. Two times the bracket five plus one, squared, minus ten divided by five. Brackets give six. Six squared is thirty six. Then multiply and divide: seventy two and two. Last, seventy two minus two is seventy.

Now it's your turn. Eighteen divided by three, plus two times four. Pause and try. Division and multiplication come first. Eighteen divided by three is six. Two times four is eight. Six plus eight is fourteen.

Great job! Remember BEDMAS: brackets, exponents, division and multiplication, then addition and subtraction, and work left to right in each team. Practice the order of operations in Middle School Math at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!