Order of operations: On convention and met-before acronyms

In our exploration of the order of operations we focus on the following claim: "In the conventional order of operations, division should be performed before multiplication." This initially surprising claim is based on the acronym BEDMAS, a popular mnemonic used in Canada to assist students...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Educational studies in mathematics 2018-02, Vol.97 (2), p.143-162
Main Authors: Zazkis, Rina, Rouleau, Annette
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abbreviations
Arithmetic
Concept Formation
Conflict Resolution
Dividing (mathematics)
Education
Elementary School Mathematics
Elementary School Teachers
Foreign Countries
Mathematical Concepts
Mathematics
Mathematics Education
Mathematics Instruction
Memorization
Methods
Mnemonics
Multiplication
Study and teaching
Teachers
Teaching Methods
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Summary:In our exploration of the order of operations we focus on the following claim: "In the conventional order of operations, division should be performed before multiplication." This initially surprising claim is based on the acronym BEDMAS, a popular mnemonic used in Canada to assist students in remembering the order of operations. The claim was voiced by a teacher and then presented for consideration to a class of prospective elementary school teachers. We investigate the participants' understanding of the order of operations, focusing on the operations of multiplication and division. We report on participants' ways of resolving a cognitive conflict faced as a result of relying on memorized mnemonics.
ISSN:0013-1954
1573-0816
DOI:10.1007/s10649-017-9789-9