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Year 6

Combine multiplication with addition and subtraction

I can explain which order to complete the multiplication and addition or subtraction elements of a problem, and I know how to write this as an equation.

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New
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Year 6

Combine multiplication with addition and subtraction

I can explain which order to complete the multiplication and addition or subtraction elements of a problem, and I know how to write this as an equation.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Multiplication can be combined with addition and subtraction.
  2. When there are no brackets, the multiplication is completed first.
  3. Where there are brackets, the calculation within the brackets is completed first.
  4. The order of operations is a set of rules that tells you the order in which you need to solve a written a equation.

Keywords

  • Efficient - Working efficiently means finding a way to solve a problem quickly whilst also maintaining accuracy.

  • Equation - An equation is used to show that one number, calculation or expression is equal to another.

  • Brackets - Brackets are symbols used in pairs to group things together.

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

Common misconception

Children will solve an equation by working from left to right and forget that multiplication needs to be completed before addition or subtraction.

Allow plenty of opportunities for children to practise solving equations that cannot be solved working from left to right. You could highlight the operation symbols to draw children's attention to these before they begin to solve them.

Acronyms such as BODMAS are widely used to teach the order of operations. This can sometimes lead to misconceptions about the priority of different operations. If you wish to use them, ensure that children understand that addition and subtraction and multiplication and division have equal priority.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
An equation is used to show that one number, calculation or expression is to another.
Correct Answer: equal, equivalent
Q2.
Look at the bar model. Which of these expressions could it represent?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 4 x 3
3 x 3
7 x 3
Q3.
4 × 3 is equal to ___
7
Correct answer: 12
1
Q4.
Match the equations to the correct solutions.
Correct Answer:4 x 5 =,20

20

Correct Answer:6 + 6 + 6 =,18

18

Correct Answer:3 x 3 =,9

9

Q5.
Match the expressions that are equal in value.
Correct Answer:3 x 2,2 + 2 + 2

2 + 2 + 2

Correct Answer:3 x 3,3 + 3 + 3

3 + 3 + 3

Correct Answer:4 x 5,5 + 5 + 5 + 5

5 + 5 + 5 + 5

Q6.
Aisha and Jun want to find the total number of cakes. Aisha calculates 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 and Jun calculates 6 x 8 They find the correct number of cakes. Whose method was more efficient?
An image in a quiz
Aisha's method
Correct answer: Jun's method

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Think about the order of operations. Which of these sentences are correct?
Correct answer: Multiplication has priority over addition and subtraction.
Addition has priority over subtraction.
Correct answer: Any part of an equation that is in brackets should be completed first.
Q2.
Which bar model could you use as a representation to help solve this problem? Jun has 3 packs of 20 balloons. Sam has 4 packs of 12 balloons. Who has more balloons, and by how many?
Correct answer: A
B
C
Q3.
Look at this problem. I have two packs of 25 stickers. You have three packs of 12 stickers. How many more stickers do I have? Which equation could you use to solve this?
2 × 25 + 3 × 12 =
Correct answer: 2 × 25 − 3 × 12 =
3 × 12 × 2 × 25 =
Q4.
Use the equation to help solve this problem. A class is organised into five teams of three children and four teams of four children. There are children in the class.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 31
Q5.
Match each equation to the correct solution.
Correct Answer:2 + 6 × 7 =,2 + 42 = 44

2 + 42 = 44

Correct Answer:(2 + 6) × 7 = ,8 × 7 = 56

8 × 7 = 56

Correct Answer:(6 − 2) × 7 = ,4 × 7 = 28

4 × 7 = 28

Q6.
Sam’s book has 120 pages. She reads 9 pages each day for 11 days. How many more pages does she have left to read? pages.
Correct Answer: 21