Feb 162014
Feb 032014
Here are two more practice on-line tests. When you get to the end the computer will ask you to review your answers. Go back and ensure you have answered all the questions, shown all your working and not made any silly mistakes. If everything is ok click on continue. You may have to wait a while, but eventually the computer will ask you to save a pdf. Save it, then open it. The computer will have marked some questions for you but most have to be marked by a teacher. If you have a teacher, send them the pdf and they will mark it for you.
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.
Feb 022014
I am becoming increasingly concerned by students who seem to have developed a complete addiction to their mobile phone! Many struggle to concentrate for a minute without having to check their device. So, mobile phone addicts, here is my solution to get you engaged in maths again! Download these great apps, and prepare for your GCSE. They both have limited free versions so you can try them out, but the price for the full version is very reasonable and much less than a revision book.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webrich.gcsemathslite
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 182014
Do you know all the important words for shape? This is a simple matching game to help you. Each time you play you will get a different selection of words.
Here is a similar exercise with pictures
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 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 032014
If you are studying GCSE you need to learn the names of all the parts of a circle. This should help!
Circle Vocabulary
Dec 122013
My Higher GCSE students really enjoyed using this tool to discover Circle Theorems this week. Highly recommended!
Dec 032013
The news today is concentrating on UK students performance in maths, and how the students in countries like China, Korea and Japan seem to be doing much better.
Why not have a go at some of the test questions and see how you can do?
http://www.oecd.org/pisa/test/
This is what the Guardian has to say about it. The OECD believe their results show that boys are better at maths than girls. Do you think this is true? Over the many years I have taught maths I have not found a great difference between the sexes, but I do acknowledge that the boys generally find shape and space activities such as working with nets of three dimensional shapes easier.
Nov 172013
Nov 122013
This game helps you practice giving the right change. My first job was in Boots the Chemist- learn this skill and maybe you could get a job in a shop.
Oct 302013
Oct 212013
Oct 202013
This interactive worksheet will help you get to grips with simple and compound interest.
Oct 082013
Scan
A shocking maths exercise looking at the changing ratio of boy to girl births in Asia.
Oct 042013
Obesity is still increasing in South Yorkshire. Do the maths, then go and get some exercise!