These days it is quiet common to see challenging posts on social media to answer the very basic math equations. To my surprise people often reveal wrong answers.
Say for example here is a small math equation: 3 + 9 - 2 * 4 + 5
What do you think is the answer 45 or 9?!!
To answer this we need to get familiar with the very basic rule of math which is called Order of Operations often called BODMAS (Bracket - Order - Division - Multiplication - Addition - Subtraction) mnemonic.
Bracket often represented as () or {} or [] to distinguish between different sets.
Order is nothing but the exponential of a number. Ex. 52
Division/Multiplication: Both are of same precedence. Division is nothing but the multiplicative inverse. Ex: 5/2 = 5 * (1/2)
Addition/Subtraction: Like Division - Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction are of same precedence. Subtraction is nothing but the additive inverse. Ex: 5 - 3 = 5 + (-3)
The order of operations used throughout mathematics, science, technology and many computer programming languages is expressed here:
1. Brackets or Parentheses
2. Exponents and Roots
3. Multiplication and Division
4. Addition and Subtraction
BODMAS is often used in UK. However its equivalent mnemonics are PEMDAS (Parentheses - Exponents - Multiplication - Division - Addition - Subtraction) which is used in United States. Orders can be replaced with Exponents or Indices or Powers to name a few BEDMAS and BIDMAS.
The answer to the above equation is:
3 + 9 - 2 * 4 + 5
= 3 + 9 - (2 * 4) + 5
= 3 + 9 - 8 + 5
= 3 + 1 + 5
= 9
