Mastering BEDMAS And Order Of Operations Guide

As students move through middle school, math becomes more than just numbers—it becomes a structured process of logic and rules (BEDMAS). Math problems often involve multiple mathematical operations, such as brackets, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction, all in a single math equation.

Without a clear method, students might solve these expressions in a different order, leading to confusion or even two answers for math problems where, only one of which is the correct answer. That’s why the BEDMAS rule is foundational to math education in Math Tutoring Oakville, Math program for Kids Oakville, many countries, including Canada.

What Does Each Letter in BEDMAS Word Stand For?

Here’s what each letter stands for:

B – Brackets (also known as Parentheses) – Solve what’s inside brackets first

E – Exponents – Calculate squares, cubes, and other powers

D – Division

M – Multiplication

A – Addition

S – Subtraction

Some schools in different parts of the world call it PEMDAS instead of BEDMAS, where the P stands for Parentheses. It’s the same concept but with a different acronym. Many students also use fun memory tricks like:

“Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” (PEMDAS)

“Big Elephants Destroy Mice And Snakes” (BEDMAS)

BEDMAS helps students remember the correct order to perform operations in Mathematical expressions. It helps them to reduce confusion and reinforce consistent steps for solving math problems.🧮 Why Understanding the BEDMAS Rule Is So Important

Why Is Understanding the BEDMAS Rule So Important For Every Student?

Many middle school students often misapply operations when solving math equations, especially when they involve different operations of the same precedence (like multiplication and division). Missteps can easily lead to a wrong answer, even if the individual steps are technically correct.

✅ Example: 8 + 2 × 5

If you add first, you get:

8 + 2 = 10, then 10 × 5 = 50 ❌Wrong answer

But following BEDMAS:

2 × 5 = 10, then 8 + 10 = 18 ✅Correct answer

In this Example, understanding the correct order of operations ensures consistency across all calculations.

How to Apply the BEDMAS (Order Of Opeartions) Rule: Step-by-Step Following is the sequence to solve any mathematical expressions using BEDMAS.

Brackets – Evaluate everything inside brackets (or parentheses) first

Exponents – Calculate powers (e.g., 2², 3³)

Division & Multiplication – Perform from left to right
Addition & Subtraction – Again, work left to right

Even though addition appears before subtraction in the equation, these operations have equal precedence. The same applies to division and multiplication. Solve them in the order they appear; this is called left-associative processing, and it’s the rule embedded in most calculators, spreadsheets, and programming languages.

➗ Division Operations in Action

Students should be solving division operations as per below.

12 ÷ 3 + 4

According to BEDMAS (Order Of Operations):

Division comes first: 12 ÷ 3 = 4

After Division solve addition: 4 + 4 = 8 ✅

If you solve the above math problem in reverse order and add it first, then you will get the incorrect answer. It shows how the BEDMAS rule ensures accuracy.

Subtraction Operations and the Left-to-Right Rule

Many students think and make a mistake, assuming addition always comes first, but both have the same precedence.

✅ Example:

10 – 3 + 2

Subtract: 10 – 3 = 7

Add: 7 + 2 = 9 ✅

Practice Questions to Reinforce Understanding

The key to becoming a master in BEDMAS (Order Of Operations) is to practice the rules repeatedly by solving different math problems. Whether you’re in Ontario, the U.S., or anywhere globally, practicing order of operations improves students’ ability to Identify errors, Improve speed and Build math confidence.

Example Problem:

18 ÷ 3 + 2 × 4

Step-by-step:

Division: 18 ÷ 3 = 6

Multiplication: 2 × 4 = 8

Addition: 6 + 8 = 14 ✅Final answer

Practicing addition, multiplication, and addition problems like the above improves skills and students’ understanding of BEDMAS (Order of Operations), especially in real-world contexts, such as solving fractions, writing formulas, or programming and engineering.

🔁 BEDMAS and Nested Parentheses

After students master the basic BEDMAS rules, they get introduced to higher-level mathematics, where they see nested parentheses or more than one set of brackets math problems. They need to solve the equation as per the below sequence:

Solve the innermost brackets first

Work outward layer by layer

Follow the same BEDMAS rule at each level

It introduces students to more complex algebra and sets them up for success in high school and beyond.

🧠 Bonus: A BEDMAS Quick-Reference Table

Operation Type	Symbol	Priority	Direction
Brackets/Parentheses	( )	Highest	Innermost first
Exponents	², ³	High	Left to right
Division	÷ or /	Equal	Left to right
Multiplication	× or *	Equal	Left to right
Addition	+	Equal	Left to right
Subtraction	–	Equal	Left to right

Final Thoughts: Why BEDMAS Is a Global Math Essential

Whether you’re a parent in Ontario or a teacher halfway across the globe, the BEDMAS rule is one of the most valuable tools for helping students navigate math with clarity.

Understanding the BEDMAS and how to calculate, solve, and perform operations in the correct order is a life skill. You can use this skill (Order of operations) beyond the classroom. From checking formulas on a calculator, solving real-life equations, or writing code, BEDMAS gives students the structure they need to succeed.

📥Looking for practice worksheets, lesson plans, or printable guides?
Stay tuned—GEMS Learning Institute is preparing a downloadable BEDMAS toolkit for global parents and educators.

💬 Want help teaching BEDMAS to your child?
We offer expert-led tutoring support both locally in Oakville/Mississauga and through our global online math tutoring platform.

👉 Contact GEMS Learning Institute today to learn more or request a free trial.