Order of operations and brackets
A sheet multiplies and divides before it adds. Learn the order it follows and where brackets are needed to get the right answer.
In this room: 3 tasks, 9 questions
- Multiply and divide come first3 questions
- Brackets change the order3 questions
- Brackets round a total3 questions
A sheet does not work a formula out from left to right. It follows a fixed order.
- Brackets first
- Then multiply and divide
- Then add and take away
So in =B3+B1*B2 the multiplying is done first, and the delivery is added last.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boxes ordered | 12 |
| 2 | Price of a box | 4.50 |
| 3 | Delivery | 6.00 |
| 4 | Discount | 10% |
Answer the questions below
2 more questions follow in this task.
Anything in brackets is worked out before the rest. Use brackets when an add or a take away has to happen first.
A cell that shows 10% holds the number 0.1. So (1-B4) is 0.9: the share of the price that is left after the discount.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boxes ordered | 12 |
| 2 | Price of a box | 4.50 |
| 3 | Delivery | 6.00 |
| 4 | Discount | 10% |
Answer the questions below
2 more questions follow in this task.
To find an average by hand, add first and divide last. The adding needs brackets, because the dividing would come first without them.
The same goes for a change measured against a starting figure: the take away goes in brackets.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan | 1,200.00 |
| 2 | Feb | 1,500.00 |
| 3 | Mar | 1,800.00 |
Answer the questions below
2 more questions follow in this task.