Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division - Order of operations - Presentation

In a presentation focused on the importance of the order of operations in mathematics, students are introduced to the concept that the sequence in which they perform different operations can significantly affect the outcome of a calculation. The term 'operations' refers to mathematical processes such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The lesson prompts students to think critically about what is meant by 'operations' and to discuss examples. A key aspect of the lesson is the introduction of BIDMAS—an acronym that stands for Brackets, Indices, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction—which helps students remember the correct order in which to perform operations when faced with complex calculations.

Through a series of activities, the presentation illustrates the practical application of BIDMAS. One example involves a character named Esin, who has several bags of sweets and adds more sweets to each bag. Students are asked to determine the correct calculation to find the total number of sweets, highlighting the importance of using brackets to ensure accurate results. Another activity features a character named Zach, who makes an error in his calculation. Students are tasked with identifying his mistake and providing the correct answer, demonstrating their understanding of the BIDMAS rule. Additional exercises challenge students to create their own calculations using a selection of numbers and operations, further reinforcing the significance of the order of operations in achieving the correct answer.