Understanding the BODMAS/BIDMAS rule is really important for students, especially in Year 7 math.

BODMAS stands for:

1. Brackets
2. Orders (which means powers and roots)
3. Division
4. Multiplication
5. Addition
6. Subtraction

This rule tells us the order in which we should do math operations to get the right answer.

For example, in the problem $3 + 6 \times (5 + 4)$, we start with what's inside the brackets. We solve that first:

• Inside the brackets: $5 + 4 = 9$

Now our problem looks like this: $3 + 6 \times 9$.

Next, we do the multiplication: $6 \times 9 = 54$.

Finally, we add the $3$:

$3 + 54 = 57$.

So, the answer is 57!

Studies show that when students understand the BODMAS/BIDMAS rule, they get better at solving problems. One study found that 75% of Year 7 students had a hard time with problems that have multiple steps. But once they learned BODMAS, their accuracy in answers went up by 30%.

In short, while knowing the BODMAS/BIDMAS rule isn’t the only thing you need to be good at algebra, it is a basic skill that helps in understanding math better. This solid understanding is super important as students move on to more difficult algebra topics.