Order of Operations (Cambridge International IGCSE ICT)
Exam board Cambridge International · IGCSEUpdated 2024-05-16
Spec point —
20.1.3
Order of Operations
What is the order of operations?
- The order of operations is what determines the sequence in which calculations are performed within a formula
- The order of operations ensures the calculation is completed correctly
- A spreadsheet performs all calculations using a mathematical order of operations known as BIDMAS
| B | Brackets first |
|---|---|
| I | Indices (power of and square root etc.) |
| DM | Division and Multiplication (left to right) |
| AS | Addition and Subtraction (left to right) |
Case Study Consider the following example spreadsheet:
A B C 1 10 20 2 5 15 3 =20*2
- If you input the formula "=A1+B3" in cell C1, the result will be 50, because B3* is calculated first (20*2=40), and then A1 is added (10+40=50)
- If you input the formula "=(A1+B1)2" in cell C2, the result will be 60, because A1+B1 is calculated first (10+20=30), and then the result is multiplied by 2 (302=60)
Exam Hint It's always a good idea to use brackets to make sure that your formulae work as expected, even if they might not be necessary
- It makes the formula easier to read and understand
- It can prevent errors if the formula is edited in the future
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