Te reo Māori terms
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Learning objective overview
Master Teaching Guide coverage for this objective.
Current NZC (2007)
NA4-7
New NZC (2026)
NZC26-P4-NUM-NSO-K-Y9-08NZC26-P4-NUM-NSO-K-Y9-09NZC26-P4-ALG-ER-K-Y9-01
Resources
- Alpha textbook: BEDMAS (Check Your Understanding on pg 101)
- Other: Four 4s task — ask BBO how it works (worksheet here)
- CorbettMaths worksheetQuestions PDF · Answers
Terminology
- GEMA
- BEDMAS
- grouping symbols
- exponent
- order of operations
- left to right
Task goals
- Evaluate a two- or three-step numerical expression using the correct order of operations, e.g. $16-3\times4$ or $24\div4\times3$.
- Evaluate an expression containing grouping symbols, treating everything inside the brackets as a single quantity, e.g. $(8-3)\times4$.
- Evaluate an expression containing a power, e.g. $3^2+7$.
- Evaluate an expression where a fraction bar acts as an unwritten pair of brackets around the whole numerator and the whole denominator, e.g. $\dfrac{20+4}{2\times4}$.
- Substitute a numerical value for a variable and evaluate the resulting expression using GEMA, e.g. find $3x^2-5$ when $x=4$.
- Check a worked evaluation for an order-of-operations error, identify the mistake, and state the correct value.
- Insert brackets into a given expression so that it evaluates to a specified target value.
Where this fits
What leads into this objective, and where it goes next.
Before
Operations with Decimals
Relationship between percentages, fractions, and decimals
Irrational numbers
You are here
Simplifying Expressions with GEMA / BEDMAS
Know
The order of operations is important when evaluating or forming expressions. Operations are done as follows: 1. grouped operations (e.g. expressions under a square root, involving the numerator of a fraction, or inside brackets) 2. exponents or powers 3. multiplication and division, from left to right 4. addition and subtraction, from left to right.
Statement▸
Year 9 · Number · Number structures and operations
NZC26-P4-NUM-NSO-K-Y9-08
Know
A mnemonic, such as GEMA — Grouped (e.g. √(3^2 + 4^2)), Exponents (e.g. (−2)^3), Multiplicative (× and ÷), Additive (+ and −) — can be used to remember the order of operations.
Statement▸
Year 9 · Number · Number structures and operations
NZC26-P4-NUM-NSO-K-Y9-09
Also under NA4-7:
For teachers
Need the fuller teaching notes for this objective? Open the Teacher guidance PDF.