How to explain reasoning and word problems in bidmas mistakes & reasoning to your student
29 October 2026
Many children find BIDMAS questions tricky, especially when word problems are involved. It helps to break each part down and follow the order of operations carefully.
Example question
Calculate 6 + 2 × (4 + 1)² − 8 ÷ 4 using BIDMAS.
Step 1: Brackets first. Work out (4 + 1) = 5.
Now the sum is 6 + 2 × 5² − 8 ÷ 4.
Step 2: Indices next. Work out 5² = 25.
Now the sum is 6 + 2 × 25 − 8 ÷ 4.
Step 3: Multiplication and division from left to right. 2 × 25 = 50. 8 ÷ 4 = 2.
Now the sum is 6 + 50 − 2.
Step 4: Addition and subtraction from left to right. 6 + 50 = 56. 56 − 2 = 54.
The correct answer is 54.
Key insight: Always follow the order of operations. If you do the steps in the wrong order, you may get the wrong answer.
After working through this example, your child will see how each BIDMAS step fits together. They will be able to spot common mistakes and feel ready to try similar questions on their own.
