Here are some specific activities, investigations or visual aids we have picked out. Click anywhere in the grey area to access the resource. The options may go beyong the scope of this level of the Functional Skills requirements.
BIDMAS A self marking exercise testing the application of BIDMAS, an acronym describing the order of operations used when evaluating expressions.
BIDMAS Video A reminder of the order of operations often referred to as BIDMAS, BODMAS or PEMDAS.
Equatero Find the expression from a series of guesses and clues.
Missing Operations Exercise Each box represents a missing operation (add, subtract, multiply or divide). What are they?
Bidmaze Find your way through the maze encountering mathematical operations in the correct order to achieve the given total.
Here are some Advanced Starters on this statement:
- Algebraic Product
Finding the value of the expression is easier than you think! more - X Divided by 2Y
Why do different calculators not agree on the order of operations? more
Click on a topic below for suggested lesson Starters, resources and activities from Transum.
- Algebra Pupils begin their study of algebra by investigating number patterns. Later they construct and express in symbolic form and use simple formulae involving one or many operations. They use brackets, indices and other constructs to apply algebra to real word problems. This leads to using algebra as an invaluable tool for solving problems, modelling situations and investigating ideas. If this topic were split into four sub topics they might be: Creating and simplifying expressions; Expanding and factorising expressions; Substituting and using formulae; Solving equations and real life problems; This is a powerful topic and has strong links to other branches of mathematics such as number, geometry and statistics. See also "Number Patterns", "Negative Numbers" and "Simultaneous Equations".
- Arithmetic The ability to perform mathematical calculations is still very important despite our hi-tech environment. Good numeracy skills support the understanding of more advanced mathematical concepts at all levels. Mathematicians still consider mastery of the manual algorithms to be a necessary foundation for the study of algebra and computer science. Pupils should have a good grasp of the meaning of numbers and use their understanding of place value to multiply and divide whole numbers and fractions. They should be able to order, add and subtract negative numbers in context. They should use all four operations with decimals rounding answers where required. They should be able to solve simple problems involving ratio and direct proportion and calculate fractional or percentage parts of quantities and measurements, using a calculator where appropriate. See also the Mental Methods topic and our Number Skills Inventory.
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