Primary 5 · Mathematics · Order of Operations

Order of Operations questions for Primary 5 Maths

10 questions to work through online. Answer and you get the working straight away, then a score at the end. No sign-up, and you can retake it as often as you like.

  • Multiplication before addition
  • Brackets first
  • Division before subtraction
  • Two operations of equal rank
  • Brackets and multiplication
  • Multiplication before subtraction
  • Nested brackets
  • Mixed operations
  • Choosing where brackets go
0 of 10 answered
Question 1 of 10Multiplication before addition
8 + 5 × 3 = ?
Question 2 of 10Brackets first
(12 − 4) × 6 = ?
Question 3 of 10Division before subtraction
40 − 18 ÷ 3 = ?
Question 4 of 10Two operations of equal rank
60 ÷ 5 × 2 = ?
Question 5 of 10Brackets and multiplication
3 × (7 + 5) − 10 = ?
Question 6 of 10Multiplication before subtraction
100 − 7 × 9 = ?
Question 7 of 10Nested brackets
2 × (30 − (4 + 6)) = ?
Question 8 of 10Mixed operations
45 ÷ 9 + 6 × 4 = ?
Question 9 of 10Choosing where brackets go
Where must brackets go to make 4 + 6 × 5 = 50 true?
Question 10 of 10Mixed operations
72 ÷ (2 + 7) × 3 = ?
Answers and explanations for all 10 questions

Every answer with the reasoning behind it. Worth reading after you have tried the set — or on its own, if you are a parent marking it.

  1. 8 + 5 × 3 = ?

    Answer: 23

    Multiplication comes first: 5 × 3 = 15, then 8 + 15 = 23.

  2. (12 − 4) × 6 = ?

    Answer: 48

    Brackets first: 12 − 4 = 8, then 8 × 6 = 48.

  3. 40 − 18 ÷ 3 = ?

    Answer: 34

    Division comes first: 18 ÷ 3 = 6, then 40 − 6 = 34.

  4. 60 ÷ 5 × 2 = ?

    Answer: 24

    Division and multiplication rank equally, so work left to right: 60 ÷ 5 = 12, then 12 × 2 = 24.

  5. 3 × (7 + 5) − 10 = ?

    Answer: 26

    Brackets first: 7 + 5 = 12. Then 3 × 12 = 36, and 36 − 10 = 26.

  6. 100 − 7 × 9 = ?

    Answer: 37

    Multiplication first: 7 × 9 = 63, then 100 − 63 = 37.

  7. 2 × (30 − (4 + 6)) = ?

    Answer: 40

    Innermost bracket first: 4 + 6 = 10, then 30 − 10 = 20, then 2 × 20 = 40.

  8. 45 ÷ 9 + 6 × 4 = ?

    Answer: 29

    Do both ÷ and × first: 45 ÷ 9 = 5 and 6 × 4 = 24, then 5 + 24 = 29.

  9. Where must brackets go to make 4 + 6 × 5 = 50 true?

    Answer: (4 + 6) × 5

    (4 + 6) × 5 = 10 × 5 = 50.

  10. 72 ÷ (2 + 7) × 3 = ?

    Answer: 24

    Bracket first: 2 + 7 = 9. Then left to right: 72 ÷ 9 = 8, and 8 × 3 = 24.