---
title: "Order of Operations: PEMDAS vs BODMAS vs BEDMAS — Which Country Uses Which?"
description: "Learn the order of operations and why different countries use PEMDAS, BODMAS, or BEDMAS — they always give the same answer. Step-by-step guide with worked examples."
url: "https://worldcalculators.org/learning/how-to/order-of-operations/"
canonical: "https://worldcalculators.org/learning/how-to/order-of-operations/"
---

# Order of Operations: PEMDAS vs BODMAS

Learn the order of operations and why different countries use PEMDAS, BODMAS, or BEDMAS — they always give the same answer. Step-by-step guide with worked examples.

## Quick answer

PEMDAS (USA), BODMAS (UK/India/Australia), BEDMAS (Canada) — all the same rule: (1) Brackets/Parentheses first, (2) Exponents/Orders, (3) Multiplication and Division left to right, (4) Addition and Subtraction left to right. Example: 3 + 6 × 2 = 3 + 12 = 15 (not 9 × 2 = 18). Multiplication before addition, always.

## The Four Rules — in Order

Solve everything inside () or [] or {} before touching anything outside. If nested, work from innermost outward. Example: 2 × (3 + (4 − 1)) → 2 × (3 + 3) → 2 × 6 = 12.
Calculate any powers (²) or roots (√) next. Example: 2 + 3² = 2 + 9 = 11 (not 5² = 25). The exponent belongs only to the 3, not to the result of the addition.

Source: https://worldcalculators.org/learning/how-to/order-of-operations/
Markdown mirror of the HTML page. Prefer this URL for RAG; the interactive calculator still lives on the HTML page.