Q&A for How to Apply the Order of Operations

BODMAS stands for Brackets, Order, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction. Like PEMDAS, it is an abbreviation for the order of operations. In this case, Brackets stand for Parentheses; Order stands for Exponents (as in Order of Powers).

When adding and subtracting (or multiplying and dividing) it's customary -- but not mandatory -- to work from left to right.

Twenty-five came from 5 squared, or 5x5. The 5 came from 8-3, and the 8 came from 6+2.

When adding and subtracting, work from left to right.

When doing addition and subtraction, work from left to right.

There’s no difference, but Americans like to use PEMDAS most frequently.

First do what's inside the parentheses: add 7 plus 3. That's 10. Next, do what's inside the brackets: multiply by 4. That's 40. Now do what's inside the braces: square 4. That's 16. Then add 16 plus 40. That's 56. Finally, divide everything inside the braces by 7: 56/7 = 8, which is the answer.

When working within a certain priority (such as parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division or addition/subtraction), you typically move left to right, although it actually doesn't matter which direction you move as long as you remain within that priority until it's finished. (For example, don't do any adding or subtracting until all the multiplying and dividing have been done.)

Do what's inside the parentheses first: 10 - 3 = 7. Next, do what's inside the brackets, multiplication first: 2(7) = 14. 3 + 14 = 17. Finally, do the remaining multiplication: 2(17) = 34.