Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are binary operations, meaning it is only possible to calculate with a pair of numbers at a time. Many everyday problems require a sequence of calculations, sometimes involving different operations.
Combined operations refers to problems where you need to do more than one operation.
- Repeated operations are where the same operation is applied many times (e.g. repeated addition of non-equal sets).
- Mixed operations are where different operations need to be coordinated (e.g. multiplying first then adding, or adding first then multiplying).
Combined operations are important because they:
- are common in daily life
- assist students to differentiate between the processes involved in the four operations
- provide opportunities for flexible strategic choice.
