A useful video for GCSE Higher students from Hegarty Maths.
Apr 222014
Feb 162014
Feb 162014
Here is a crossword to help you with some of the important vocabulary you need for statistics at GCSE level. You can do the interactive version or print off a paper copy and check you answers later on the interactive version. There are a few non-mathematical clues!
Feb 022014
Do you understand the difference between a formula, expression, identity and equation?
A formula is a rule written using symbols that describe a relationship between different quantities. Typical maths formulae include
A = πr² (area of a circle)
C=πd (circumference of a circle)
An expression is a group of mathematical symbols representing a number or quantity. Expressions never have equality or inequality signs like =, >, <, ≠ ,≥ ,≤. Some examples
3a
3xy + 4x
t² + t³
An identity is an equation that is always true, no matter what values are chosen.
Examples
3a + 2a = 5a
x²+x² = 2x²
5 x 10 = 10 x 5
An equation is a mathematical statement that shows that two expressions are equal. It always includes an equals sign.
Examples
x² =100
3x(x+5)= 42
(x+3)(x-2)=0
Use this exercise to make sure you understand the difference.
Jan 262014
GCSE students need to be able to work out the equation of a graph from what it looks like.
If it’s a straight line graph you just need to look for two things.
1. The Intercept. This is where the line crosses the y axis.
2. The gradient. This is the steepness of the line. If the line goes up from left to right it will be positive. If the line goes down from left to right it will be negative. The larger the number the steeper the line.
This example shows the line y=2x-4. The line goes up two units for each unit it goes across. The gradient is 2÷1=2. It crosses the y axis at -4, so the intercept is -4.
Mathematicians use y=mx+c as the general formula for any straight line. The gradient is m and the intercept is c.
Try this exercise to see if you can match the graphs with their equations.
Try this exercise to see if you can match the equations with the correct gradient and intercept.
Jan 152014
Each number in a sequence is called a “term”. In the sequence 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 the first term is 3 and the 5th term is 15.
You could call this sequence “the three times table”. In algebra we describe it as 3n.In other words the first term is 3×1, the second term is 3×2 etc.
3n+ 4 describes the sequence 7, 10, 13, 16, 19… because the first term is 3×1+4=7, the second term is 3×2+4=10 and the third term is 3×3+4=13. Notice that because n is multiplied by 3 the sequence goes up in 3’s.
Have a go at matching these nth terms with the right sequence.
Jan 122014
Great video from Numberphile that explains the controversy!
Jan 122014
In the last exercise you learnt how to factorise quadratic expressions. We will now use this in order to solve simple quadratic equations.
Suppose x²+9x +20 = 0
If we factorise we get (x+4) (x+5) = 0
In other words, two numbers multiply together to make 0. This means one of those numbers must be 0!
So we know EITHER x+4 = 0 OR x+5 = 0
If x +4 = 0 x = -4
If x+5 =0 then x=-5
So the solution is x = -4 or -5
Remember quadratic equations will nearly always have 2 solutions.
Try this- you will probably need pencil and paper to factorise the equations first.
Jan 122014
To solve simple quadratic equations you need to be able to factorise quadratic expressions, like x²+9x +20
To do this look for a pair of numbers that add up to 9 and muliply together to make 20.
If you can’t find the right pair, write down all the pairs of factors of 20.
1 x 20
2 x 10
4 x 5
Now we can see the correct pair is 4 and 5.
So x²+9x +20=(x+4)(x+5)
Check this by multiplying out the brackets.
Lets try one involving negative numbers.
x² -x -12
The pairs of factors of -12 are
-12 x 1
-6 x 2
-4 x 3
-3 x 4
-2 x 6
-1 x 12
The pair that add up to -1 (because there is -x in the expression) are -4 and 3
So x² -x -12=(x-4)(x+3)
Jan 072014
Substitution in maths means swopping the letters for the right numbers so you can work out the value of an expression. Don’t forget that ab means a multiplied by b and c/d means c divided by d. Have a go at this interactive worksheet to get the idea.
http://www.mathswithgraham.org.uk/potatoes/numeracy/substitution.htm
Jan 062014
Try this interactive worksheet to teach yourself factorising.
If you would rather use pen and paper there is a paper version here. Check your answers using the interactive version.
Jan 032014
If you are studying GCSE you need to learn the names of all the parts of a circle. This should help!
Circle Vocabulary
Jan 012014
I have just discovered the quiz site Sporcle. Here is a multiplication game to get us started! You have to be really quick at typing as well as arithmetic!
Oct 312013
The poster from my LSIS Research about “What Numeracy Teachers are doing right”
Oct 302013
Oct 082013
Scan
A shocking maths exercise looking at the changing ratio of boy to girl births in Asia.
Sep 292013
You need to find the lowest common multiple when finding common denominators to add fractions. Highest common factors are also used in fraction or ratio calculations when you cancel down. This interactive worksheet will show you how to work them out.
Sep 292013
Image from the Lisa Simpson Bookclub
Simon Singh has written a book about maths in the Simpsons. Read all about it here on the Guardian website.
Have a read of the article and find out about Fermat’s Last Theorem, Perfect Numbers, Narcissistic numbers, Mersenne Primes, Googols and Googolplexs and lots more! You may not need to know this stuff to pass your maths exam, but hopefully you’ll see that maths can be both fascinating and fun!
Sep 292013
Find as many different calculators as you can. Your phone,
your computer, the one in the back of the overflowing drawer in the hall. Then try this sum on all of them.
4+ 7 x 3
Do all the calculators give the same answer? What is the correct answer?
If you have a cheap four function calculator you will have got the answer 33, because it always calculates in the order you enter the sum. Unfortunately this is not mathematically correct!
If you used a scientific calculator you will have got the answer 25 which is correct. Scientific calculators understand the correct order to do calculations. Multiplication is more important than addition, so this comes first.
So how do we know what order to do calculations in? We use a rule called BIDMAS.
B rackets
I ndices
D ivision ÷
M ultiplication x
A ddition +
S ubtraction –
Always do brackets first. Then do any indices (like 2 squared or square root of 16). Some people refer to BODMAS where the O stands for “of”.) Division and multiplication come next (these have equal priority). Last is additions and subtractions (also equal priority)
Sep 112013
How to Count | English Lessons
Full Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE6E3C52C55AAAB87 – – Like these English Lessons !!! Check out the official app http://apple.co/1QwKA29…
Learn how to count in English with the help of ESL instructor Megan Brach in these Howcast videos.
