13 - 3 × 4+2 Simple question that lots of people get wrong

Have you heard of the BODMAS / BIDMAS rule? 

This rule changes your answer from 42 to 3 instead. that is because this rule says you need to follow a specific order when calculating. It seems easy but is quite easy to forget since we all want to start with the first number. 

here the BODMAS stands for Brackets, Of/operations, multiplication, addition,Subtraction. if it's BIDMAS = same but I stands for indices. 

So , 

13 - 3 × 4 + 2 

=13 - 12 + 2 (multiply first)

=13 - 10 (add , don't forget its -12 +2)

= 3 (lastly we are subtracting)

Answered by Shanju R. Maths tutor

37972 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Solve (x/4)-(2x/x+2) = 1. Give your solutions to 2 decimal places. You must show your working.


6x-2y=33 4x+3y=9


Factorise and simplify the following equation: (2x^2 + 5x + 3) / (x + 1)


How do I solve a simple simultaneous equation?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences