💡 What is BODMAS? (Simple English)
BODMAS tells you which calculation to do first in a maths problem.
When you see a long sum, do not just go left to right. Follow the BODMAS order.
- B — Brackets ( ) — do these first
- O — Orders — powers like 3² = 9
- D / M — Divide ÷ and Multiply × — do before adding
- A / S — Add + and Subtract − — do these last
Example: 5 + 3 × 2 — multiply first: 3×2=6, then add: 5+6 = 11 ✅
🔍 Worked Example
Work out: 20 − 4 × 3
Multiply first: 4 × 3 = 12
Then subtract: 20 − 12 = 8
Answer = 8
✅ Do You Understand?
In the sum 10 + 2 × 4, what do you do first?
What does the B in BODMAS stand for?
📝 Practice Questions
Q1. Work out: 5 + 3 × 2
BODMAS says: Multiply before Add
Q2. Work out: (5 + 3) × 2
Brackets first!
Q3. Work out: 20 − 4 × 3
Multiply before Subtract
Q4. Work out: (10 − 4) × 3
Brackets first!
Q5. Work out: 15 ÷ 3 + 4
Divide before Add
🎉 BODMAS Complete!
💡 What are Averages? (Simple English)
An average is a number that represents a group of numbers. It gives a typical value.
There are four types you need to know:
- Mean — Add all numbers together. Divide by how many there are.
- Median — Put numbers in order. The middle number is the median.
- Mode — The number that appears most often.
- Range — The biggest number minus the smallest number.
💼 In real life: A manager uses the mean to find the average wage. A doctor uses the median to find a typical patient's age.
🔍 Worked Example — Mean
Find the mean of: 4, 6, 8
Add all: 4 + 6 + 8 = 18
Count: there are 3 numbers
Divide: 18 ÷ 3 = 6
Mean = 6
✅ Do You Understand?
To find the mean of 2, 4, 6 — what is the first step?
The mode of 3, 5, 5, 7, 9 is:
📝 Practice Questions
Q1. Find the mean of: 4, 6, 8
Add all → Divide by count
Q2. Find the mean of: 10, 20, 30
Q3. Find the median of: 3, 7, 2, 9, 5
Put in order first:
Q4. Find the mode of: 4, 2, 4, 7, 4 — which number appears most?
Count how many times each number appears:
Q5. Find the range of: 15, 3, 9, 11
Range = Biggest − Smallest
🎉 Averages Complete!
💡 What is a Fraction? (Simple English)
A fraction shows a part of a whole.
Example: ½ means one part out of two equal parts.
- Numerator — the top number (how many parts you have)
- Denominator — the bottom number (how many equal parts total)
- To find a fraction of an amount: divide by the denominator, then multiply by the numerator
Example: ¾ of 20 → 20 ÷ 4 = 5 → 5 × 3 = 15 ✅
💼 In real life: A recipe needs ¾ of a cup of sugar. You need to work out how much that is.
🔍 Worked Example
Find ¾ of 20
Divide by bottom number (4): 20 ÷ 4 = 5
Multiply by top number (3): 5 × 3 = 15
¾ of 20 = 15
✅ Do You Understand?
To find ½ of 20, what do you do?
In the fraction ¾, which number is the denominator?
📝 Practice Questions
Q1. Find ½ of 20
Q2. Find ¼ of 36
Q3. Find ¾ of 20
Q4. What is ½ + ¼?
Make the bottom numbers the same:
Q5. Which fraction is bigger: ⅔ or ½?
Convert to the same denominator:
🎉 Fractions Complete!
💡 What is Area? (Simple English)
Area is the amount of space inside a flat shape.
We measure area in square units — like cm² or m².
- For a rectangle: Area = Length × Width
- For a square: Area = Side × Side (because all sides are equal)
- Always write the unit as cm² or m² in your answer (squared)
💼 In real life: A painter needs to know the area of a wall to buy enough paint.
🔍 Worked Example
Find the area of a rectangle 8 cm long and 3 cm wide
Area = Length × Width
8 × 3 = 24 cm²
Area = 24 cm²
✅ Do You Understand?
What units do we use for area?
What is the formula for the area of a rectangle?
📝 Practice Questions
Q1. Find the area of a rectangle: 8 cm × 3 cm
Q2. Find the area of a square with side 5 cm
Square: all sides are equal
Q3. Find the area of a rectangle: 12 m × 4 m
Q4. Find the area of a rectangle: 9 cm × 6 cm
Q5. Find the area of a rectangle: 7.5 cm × 4 cm
🎉 Area Complete!
💡 What is Perimeter? (Simple English)
Perimeter is the total distance around the outside of a shape.
Think of it as a fence around a field — how long is the fence?
- For a rectangle: Perimeter = 2 × (Length + Width) — or add all 4 sides
- For a square: Perimeter = 4 × side length
- For a triangle: Perimeter = add all 3 sides
- Always use the same unit as the side lengths (cm, m, etc.)
💼 In real life: A gardener measures the perimeter of a garden to buy fencing.
🔍 Worked Example
Find the perimeter of a rectangle 8 cm × 3 cm
Add length and width: 8 + 3 = 11
Multiply by 2: 11 × 2 = 22 cm
Perimeter = 22 cm
✅ Do You Understand?
Perimeter is:
What is the perimeter of a square with side 6 cm?
📝 Practice Questions
Q1. Find the perimeter of a rectangle: 8 cm × 3 cm
Q2. Find the perimeter of a square with side 5 cm
Q3. Find the perimeter of a rectangle: 10 m × 4 m
Q4. Find the perimeter of a triangle with sides 6 cm, 8 cm and 10 cm
Add all three sides:
Q5. Find the perimeter of a rectangle: 12 m × 5 m
🎉 Perimeter Complete!
💡 What is Volume? (Simple English)
Volume is the amount of space inside a 3D shape.
Think of filling a box with water — how much water can it hold? That is volume.
- For a cuboid (a box shape): Volume = Length × Width × Height
- For a cube (all sides equal): Volume = Side × Side × Side (written as Side³)
- We measure volume in cm³ or m³ (cubed units)
💼 In real life: A builder needs to know the volume of a room to order the right amount of concrete.
🔍 Worked Example
Find the volume of a box: 4 cm × 3 cm × 2 cm
Volume = L × W × H
4 × 3 × 2 = 24 cm³
Volume = 24 cm³
✅ Do You Understand?
What units do we use for volume?
What is the formula for the volume of a cuboid?
📝 Practice Questions
Q1. Find the volume of a cuboid: 4 cm × 3 cm × 2 cm
Q2. Find the volume of a cube with side 3 cm
Cube: all sides are equal