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BIDMAS Order

Part of BIDMAS — GCSE Mathematics

This key facts covers BIDMAS Order within BIDMAS for GCSE Mathematics. Revise BIDMAS in Number for GCSE Mathematics with 14 exam-style questions and 22 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 2 of 8 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 2 of 8

Practice

14 questions

Recall

22 flashcards

BIDMAS Order

Work through calculations in this order:

  • Brackets - solve everything inside brackets first
  • Indices - powers and roots (e.g., x², √16, 2³)
  • Division and Multiplication - equal priority, work left to right
  • Addition and Subtraction - equal priority, work left to right
Memory aid: "Big Elephants Destroy Many Ant Settlements"
Alternative names: BODMAS (Orders), PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents)

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in BIDMAS. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Why Order MattersCommon BIDMAS MistakesFoundation ExampleStandard Example

Practice Questions for BIDMAS

What does the letter 'I' stand for in BIDMAS?

  • A. Integers
  • B. Inverse
  • C. Indices
  • D. Integration
1 markfoundation

Explain what BIDMAS tells us about calculations and why it is needed.

2 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

Calculate: 2 + 3 × 4
**Step 1:** Multiplication first (BIDMAS) 3 × 4 = 12 **Step 2:** Then addition 2 + 12 = **14** *(Not 2 + 3 = 5, then 5 × 4 = 20)*
Calculate: 10 - 2²
**Step 1:** Indices first (BIDMAS) 2² = 4 **Step 2:** Then subtraction 10 - 4 = **6** *(Not 10 - 2 = 8, then 8² = 64)*

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Why Order Matters

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Common BIDMAS Mistakes