Year 6 - Maths
Combine multiplication with addition and subtraction
Order of operations
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will explore what happens when we combine addition and subtraction with multiplication and division, bringing up the need for the order of operations.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain which order to complete the multiplication and addition or subtraction elements of a problem, and you know how to write this as an equation.
Key Notes
- Multiplication can be combined with addition and subtraction.
- When there are no brackets, the multiplication is completed first.
- Where there are brackets, the calculation within the brackets is completed first.
- The order of operations is a set of rules that tells you the order in which you need to solve a written a equation.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Efficient: Working efficiently means finding a way to solve a problem quickly whilst also maintaining accuracy.
- Equation: An equation is used to show that one number, calculation or expression is equal to another.
- Brackets: Brackets are symbols used in pairs to group things together.
- Order of operations: The order of operations is a set of rules that tell you which operations have priority over others in an equation.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children will solve an equation by working from left to right and forget that multiplication needs to be completed before addition or subtraction.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.
Multiplication can be combined with addition and subtraction. When there are no brackets, the multiplication is completed first.
2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Efficient'
Working efficiently means finding a way to solve a problem quickly whilst also maintaining accuracy. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.
3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.
Mistake: Children will solve an equation by working from left to right and forget that multiplication needs to be completed before addition or subtraction. Correction: Allow plenty of opportunities for children to practise solving equations that cannot be solved working from left to right. You could highlight the operation symbols to draw children's attention to these before they begin to solve them.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Combine division with addition and subtraction Study Guide
- Explain how the distributive law applies to division expressions with a common divisor Study Guide
- Explain how the distributive law applies to multiplication expressions with a common factor Study Guide
- Use knowledge of the order of operations to solve equations Study Guide
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