Brackets in BIDMAS: Step-by-Step Example
22 October 2026
Brackets help us decide which part of a maths problem to solve first. When you see brackets, always work out what is inside them before anything else.
Worked example
(2 + 3) × 4
First, solve inside the brackets: 2 + 3 = 5
Next, multiply the answer by 4: 5 × 4 = 20
The correct answer is 20.
Now you can spot when brackets change the order of a calculation. This makes it easier to solve similar BIDMAS questions on your own.
