Monday 21 January 2013

BOMDAS 2 PEMDAS

Recently, I have been moving the students from BOMDAS to BIDMAS, so indices are included in order of operations. After this TED-Ed animation though, I am using PEMDAS.



First, show the video.

Then, discuss, asking what is the video about? Will students say Order of Operations? Will anyone know PEMDAS? Will anyone recall BOMDAS, or BIDMAS?

Students watch the video again, this time writing down expressions that are shown. Do they really equal 0?

Students make up five of their own expressions that equal 0, the more complicated, the better.
Use calculators to check expressions equal 0.

As extension, spot the mistake in the video. At 2:33, the expression closes first a multiplication which is to the right of a division, even though this order of operations has the same result as the technically correct order. Can anyone create an expression where you must complete a division before a multiplication?

Isn't the dragon cool? Why not draw a different mythical creature composed of digits?