Why does my child think 2 + 3 × 4 = 20?
Your child works through a calculation in the wrong order, such as 2 + 3 × 4 = 20 instead of 14.
Why children do it
Working from left to right is how we read, so it feels natural for calculations too. But everyone agrees to multiply and divide before adding and taking away, so that a calculation means the same thing to everyone. 2 + 3 × 4 is 2 + 12, which is 14.
How to help at home
Ask what gets done first. Brackets, then multiplying and dividing, then adding and taking away.
The right way
Calculate: 2 + 7 × 2
- 2 + 14Multiply first: 7 times 2 is 14.
- 16Then add.
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