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Mobile Phone apps

 Blog, GCSE, GCSE Higher, GCSE Maths  No Responses »
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

 

Equations of straight lines. y=mx+c

 GCSE, GCSE Higher, GCSE Maths, Graphs and Charts, Hot Potato, Uncategorized, y=mx+c  No Responses »
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.

Try this jigsaw.

Can you match the following nth terms with their sequences?

 GCSE, GCSE Maths, Hot Potato, sequences, Uncategorized  No Responses »
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.

Solve quadratic equations by factorisation

 equations, factorisation, GCSE, GCSE Higher, GCSE Maths, Hot Potato, quadratic equations, Uncategorized  No Responses »
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.

Circle theorems from My Maths

 Circle, GCSE, GCSE Higher, GCSE Maths  No Responses »
Dec 122013
 

My Higher GCSE students really enjoyed using this tool to discover Circle Theorems this week. Highly recommended!

my maths circle theorems

Highest Common Factors and Lowest Common Multiples

 factors, Fractions, GCSE, GCSE Maths, Hot Potato, multiples, Ratio, Uncategorized  No Responses »
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.

BIDMAS

 Calculator, Functional Maths, GCSE, GCSE Maths, Hot Potato, indices, Level 2, Uncategorized  No Responses »
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)

Try this interactive worksheet to see if you’ve got it.

Multiples and Factors

 factors, GCSE, GCSE Maths, Hot Potato, multiples  No Responses »
Sep 222013
 

An interactive worksheet to help you get to grips with multiples and factors.

The Sieve of Eratosthenes

 Functional Maths, GCSE, GCSE Maths, Level 2, Multiplication, Prime Numbers, Worksheet  No Responses »
Sep 072013
 

Have a go at this worksheet to find all the Prime Numbers less than 100.

eratostenes

 

Now try this much bigger Sieve to find all the Prime Numbers less than 400! Start by clicking on 2 and all the multiples of 2 will be removed. Then click on 3 to remove the multiples of 3 and continue clicking on the prime numbers until you are only left with red prime numbers.

Also take a look at this video

Faces, Vertices and Edges

 Art and Design, Functional Maths, GCSE, GCSE Maths, Level 2, Shape, Shape, Space and Measure, Uncategorized, Website  No Responses »
Mar 022013
 

This cube has 6 faces, 8 vertices (corners) and 12 edges.

This square based pyramid has 5 faces, 5 vertices and 8 edges.

See how quickly you can do this quiz from Purpose Games. Click start, then the computer will give you a number for either F (faces), V (Vertices) or E (Edges). You just have to click on the letter next to the right shape.

 

Nets, Polyhedra and Platonic Solids

 Art and Design, Functional Maths, GCSE, GCSE Maths, Level 2, Shape, Space and Measure, Website  No Responses »
Feb 282013
 

Here is a great site to discover all about three dimensional shapes. Find some scissors and glue, print off some of these nets and see what you can make! http://www.korthalsaltes.com/cuadros.php?type=p

Probability questions

 Fractions, Functional Maths, GCSE, GCSE Maths, Level 1, Level 2, probability, Website  No Responses »
Feb 072013
 

Here are some probability questions from Transum. If you get one wrong use your back button on your browser and try again.

Work out electricity consumption and save money!

 Decimals, Finance, Functional Maths, GCSE, Hot Potato, Level 1, Multiplication, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Jan 022013
 

How do you work out how much electricity something uses?

This exercise will help you understand “units” of electricity and help you work out how much electricity different things use.

There is a worksheet version of the activity or an interactive version.

 

Join the dots puzzle

 Entry 2, Entry 3, Functional Maths, Games, GCSE, Level 1, Level 2, Shape, Shape, Space and Measure, Uncategorized, You tube video  No Responses »
Dec 022012
 

 

 

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