When an expression mixes +, −, ×, ÷, brackets and powers, you cannot just work left to right. There is a fixed order, and BODMAS is the word that reminds you of it.
The order — never break it
Brackets → Orders (powers & roots) → Division and Multiplication → Addition and Subtraction.
Two things trip everyone up:
• ÷ and × are equal rank — when they sit side by side, do them left to right, not × first. Same for + and −.
• Nested brackets open from the inside out: ( ) first, then , then [ ].
In 7 + 3 × 4, which happens first? — multiplication beats addition.
📝Practice Questions
Q1Simplify: 24 ÷ 4 × 2 + 3
Q2Simplify: 7 + 3 × (10 − 2²)
Q3Simplify: 1/2 + 1/3 × 3/4
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Real exam questions — BODMAS
3 question types · 9 solved examples from real SSC papers
BODMAS is the rule that decides which operation to do first. Get the order right and these never go wrong.
How to solve this type
BODMAS fixes the order of operations: Brackets first, then Orders (powers and roots), then Division and Multiplication, and finally Addition and Subtraction. Division and multiplication share the same rank, so when they sit side by side you work strictly left to right — never multiply first out of habit. Addition and subtraction also share a rank and are done left to right at the end. When brackets are nested, always open the innermost ( ) before { } before [ ].
