I see students lose easy marks on these topics every single year. It’s usually not because they don't know the math, but because they rush the order of operations or trip over a negative sign. Let’s tighten up your technique.

Remember: Multiplication and Division don't "outrank" each other—they happen left-to-right. The same goes for Addition and Subtraction. If you see $10 - 2 + 5$, you subtract first.

The Strategy:

Example: Evaluate $12 - 4 \times 2 + (6 \div 3)^2$

• Brackets: $(6 \div 3) = 2$
• Exponents: $2^2 = 4$
• Multiply: $4 \times 2 = 8$
• Final: $12 - 8 + 4 = 8$

Practice Drill: Solve: $3^2 \times (1 + 2)$

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Algebra is just a balance scale. Whatever you do to one side, you must do to the other. If you're stuck on a bracket like $4(x - 2) = 16$, you have two choices: expand the bracket or divide the whole side immediately. Usually, dividing first saves you a step.

Example:$4(x - 2) = 16$

Practice Drill:

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In an exam, your brain has to switch gears quickly between topics. This "Mixed Sprint" simulates that pressure. Start the timer and aim for 100% accuracy before the clock hits zero.

Q1: Simplification Simplify the expression: $3(x + 2) - 2x + 8$

Q2: Fractions What is $\frac{2}{3} + \frac{1}{4}$?

Q3: The Left-to-Right Test Solve: $12 \div 2 \times 3$