At Bettering Youth, we believe that learning Maths should be engaging, intuitive, and—most importantly—effective. One of our fantastic tutors, Shola, recently conducted a live lesson on BIDMAS (Brackets, Indices, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction) that had students not just solving problems but genuinely enjoying the process.
Shola
I am a GCSE Maths Foundations and GCSE Maths Higher tutor.
I have been a teacher of Maths for over 20 years and a Head of Year for over 10 years.
I am passionate about teaching and helping students improve their mathematical ability.
Why BIDMAS Matters
Understanding BIDMAS is crucial for any student preparing for their GCSE Maths exams. This simple yet powerful rule dictates the order in which mathematical operations should be performed. But as simple as it seems, BIDMAS can be a source of confusion if not properly understood.
Take, for instance, the expression:
3+2×53 + 2 \times 53+2×5
Without applying BIDMAS, a student might add 3 and 2 first, then multiply the result by 5, giving them an incorrect answer of 25. However, the correct approach, using BIDMAS, would involve multiplying 2 by 5 first and then adding 3, resulting in 13.
Common Misconceptions about BIDMAS
During Shola’s lesson, she highlighted several common misconceptions that students often face:
- Ignoring Brackets: Consider the expression 6÷(2+1)×36 \div (2+1) \times 36÷(2+1)×3. Ignoring the brackets can lead to a wrong answer, but correctly applying BIDMAS results in the correct solution.
- Misinterpreting Division and Multiplication Order: The order of division and multiplication can confuse students, especially when they don’t follow BIDMAS correctly. For example, in the expression 8÷4×28 \div 4 \times 28÷4×2, many might incorrectly group division and multiplication in the wrong order, leading to errors.
- Incorrectly Handling Indices: Expressions with indices can be tricky, especially if a student doesn’t fully grasp the order of operations. Shola’s lesson demystified these concepts with clear examples, making it easier for students to grasp.
Practice Makes Perfect
To ensure students fully understand BIDMAS, Shola included various practice problems during the session. One such problem was:
5+2×(32−1)5 + 2 \times (3^2 – 1)5+2×(32−1)
By correctly applying BIDMAS, students learn to break down complex expressions into manageable steps, leading to the correct solution.
Why You Should Watch This Lesson
Shola’s engaging teaching style and her ability to break down complex mathematical concepts make this BIDMAS lesson a must-watch for any student preparing for their GCSE Maths exams. Not only will your child learn how to avoid common pitfalls, but they’ll also gain the confidence to tackle challenging problems head-on.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to boost your child’s Maths skills. Watch the full lesson now and see how Shola makes BIDMAS simple and fun. Plus, if your child needs further support, you can book a session with Shola directly through our website.
Ready to Dive In?
Check out the recording of the lesson here. Get a glimpse of what makes Shola one of our top tutors and why her students not only improve in Maths but also develop a genuine love for the subject. Let’s work together to help your child excel in their GCSEs.
And for those with GCSE students—stressed about exams?
Shola, our resident Maths GCSE expert, is taking a small group of year 11 students through to success!
She’s divided the groups into two:
- current predicted grade 3-5 aiming for a grade 7
- current predicted grades 5-7 aiming for a grade 9
The courses will be tailored to the students (we’ll invite you to have a meeting with Shola so she can hear specific obstacles and areas of improvement).
We’re really keen for this new group and can’t wait to write back as the year progresses of all the confidence-boosting and mark-changing impact it makes!