🧱 See It
BEDMAS still decides the order — brackets, then multiply/divide, then add/subtract. The only new twist is that some of the numbers now have decimal points, so every add/subtract step also needs the column-lining-up trick from before.
✏️ Draw It
Number the operations first, exactly like always — before touching a single decimal point:
2.5
②
+
1.2
①
×
3
Multiply happens first (①), then add (②) — the decimal points don't change the order at all.
🔢 Write It
2.5 + 1.2 × 3
Step 1 — multiply first:
1.2 × 3 = 3.6
Step 2 — now add, lining up the decimal points:
2.5 + 3.6 = 6.1
Figure out the ORDER first (BEDMAS). Line up decimal points only when you actually reach an add or subtract step.
💡 Worked Examples
Example 1: 2.5 + 1.2 × 3
- Order: multiply first, then add.
- Multiply:
1.2 × 3 = 3.6 - Add (line up the points):
2.5 + 3.6 = 6.1 - Answer:
6.1
Example 2: (4.8 − 2.3) × 2
- Order: brackets first, then multiply.
- Brackets (line up the points):
4.8 − 2.3 = 2.5 - Multiply:
2.5 × 2 = 5.0 - Answer:
5.0
🧠 Quick Reference
BEDMAS decides the ORDER, same as always. Whenever the order calls for an add or subtract step, line up the decimal points for that step only — treat it as its own small job, separate from figuring out the order.