If you are studying math online or using international textbooks, you will frequently encounter two popular mnemonics: BODMAS and PEMDAS. Both are designed to help students remember the standard order of operations in arithmetic.
Although the abbreviations are different, they describe essentially the same mathematical structure and yield identical numerical answers when applied correctly.
What Does BODMAS Mean?
BODMAS is widely taught in the United Kingdom, India, Australia, South Africa, and Canada. The acronym stands for:
- B — Brackets
- O — Orders (Powers, Exponents, or Square Roots)
- D — Division
- M — Multiplication
- A — Addition
- S — Subtraction
In many educational systems, "Orders" refers to powers, roots, or other operations involving exponents.
What Does PEMDAS Mean?
PEMDAS is primarily used in the United States and regions following the US curriculum. For a deeper look into this rule, check our dedicated guide on PEMDAS explained. The letters stand for:
- P — Parentheses
- E — Exponents
- M — Multiplication
- D — Division
- A — Addition
- S — Subtraction
Are BODMAS and PEMDAS Different?
The main difference is terminology rather than mathematical logic.
BODMAS uses Brackets and Orders, while PEMDAS uses Parentheses and Exponents.
The underlying principle is identical: grouping symbols and powers are handled before multiplication and division, which must always precede addition and subtraction.
A Common Mistake: Equal Priority Operations
The order of letters in these acronyms can sometimes create confusion about multiplication and division.
Consider this expression: 18 ÷ 3 × 2
You should not automatically perform multiplication first simply because M appears before D in PEMDAS (or vice versa in BODMAS).
Division and multiplication hold equal priority. When both appear together, evaluate strictly from left to right:
- Work from left: 18 ÷ 3 = 6
- Then multiply: 6 × 2 = 12
The correct answer is 12.
The Same Mathematics Across Systems
Whether your teacher uses PEMDAS, BODMAS, BIDMAS, or another abbreviation, the essential goal is understanding the actual calculation sequence rather than relying solely on the acronym.
While notation varies between educational systems, the underlying mathematical principles remain completely consistent.