Question

Simplify the following:- $39 - 18 \div 3 + 2 \times 3$

Answer 1

Hint: We will first of all understand the BODMAS rule by its full form and meaning and then understand how to apply it. Then we will just apply this rule to the given question to get the required answer.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Let us first understand what we mean by “BODMAS”.
Here, ‘B’ stands for “bracket”; ‘O’ stands for “of”; ‘D’ stands for “division”; ‘M’ stands for “multiplication”; ‘A’ stands for “addition” and ‘S’ stands for “subtraction.
We use this rule in any question related to these operations. We just have to maintain the sequence as suggested in “BODMAS” rule. First of all, we check for any brackets in the expression and simplify them, then we check for any word ‘of’ and simplify it; then we go for division, multiplication, addition and subtraction in the same sequence.
Here, if we look at our question, ‘B’ and ‘O’ are eliminated as there is no bracket or the word ‘of’ in the expression $39 - 18 \div 3 + 2 \times 3$.
Now, coming to the next part division. We see that 18 and 3 have division in between them.
So, on solving it, we will transform from the expression $39 - 18 \div 3 + 2 \times 3$ to $39 - 6 + 2 \times 3$ because $18 \div 3 = 6$.
Now, coming to the next part multiplication. We see that 2 and 3 have multiplication in between them.
So, on solving it, we will transform from the expression $39 - 6 + 2 \times 3$ to $39 - 6 + 6$ because $2 \times 3 = 6$.
Now, coming to the next part addition. We see that 39 and 6 have addition in between them.
So, on solving it, we will transform from the expression $39 - 6 + 6$ to $45 - 6$ because $39 + 6 = 45$.
Now, coming to the last part subtraction. We see that 45 and 6 have subtraction in between them.
So, on solving it, we will transform from the expression $45 - 6$ to $39$ because $45 - 6 = 39$.

Hence, finally we have $39 - 18 \div 3 + 2 \times 3 = 39$

Note: The students might forget to even use the BODMAS rule and just go in with any calculation they want. But always remember that you need to use the BODMAS rule in such questions.
We need to use the BODMAS rule in such questions because every operation is not associative like addition and multiplication are associative but not division and subtraction. In simpler words: a – b is not not necessarily equal to b – a and this happens with division as well.