Key learning points

1. When there are no brackets, multiplication and division are completed before addition and subtraction.
2. Where there is a common factor, the other factors can be added or subtracted before the final multiplication.
3. Where there is a common divisor, the dividends can be added or subtracted before the final division.
4. Any part of an equation that is in brackets should be calculated first.
5. In an equation, powers have priority over multiplication and division.

Keywords

• Order of operations - The distributive law says that multiplying a number by a group of numbers added together is the same as doing each multiplication separately.

• Distributive law - The order of operations is a set of rules that tell you which operations have priority over others in an equation.

Common misconception