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Solving quadratic equations using the formula

 algebra, GCSE Higher, GCSE Maths, Uncategorized, Worksheet, You tube video  No Responses »
May 132014
 

If you can factorise a quadratic that is the easiest way to solve it. Some quadratics don’t factorise, so then we can use the formula. This video from jayates shows how to do it. If you are studying GCSE Higher you are currently given the formula in the exam so you don’t have to learn it off by heart, but don’t forget to refer to the formula sheet at the front of your exam paper when you need it.

 

Maths is fun explains this well but don’t worry too much about the “imaginary numbers” at the end. If you are doing Higher you don’t need to know that yet.

Here is a worksheet that you can print off and practice solving quadratics with the formula.

Simultaneous Equations

 algebra, GCSE, GCSE Higher, GCSE Maths, Graphs, simultaneous equations, Uncategorized, Website, Worksheet, You tube video  No Responses »
May 132014
 


Simultaneous equations are when you have 2 or more equations with two or more unknowns. You can solve them using algebra or by drawing a graph of the two equations and seeing where they cross.

This video shows you how to solve simultaneous equations using algebra.

This video shows how to solve simultaneous equations using a graph.

Now you try!

GCSE Bitesize

Study Maths (more examples and interactive worksheets)

Simplifying Surds

 algebra, GCSE, GCSE Higher, Hot Potato, surds, Uncategorized, You tube video  No Responses »
May 132014
 

Surds are numbers left in square root or cube root format. We leave them as surds because in decimal form they go on forever, so it uses up lots of ink to write them and accuracy is quickly lost. There are lots of tricks to simplify surds and these two videos from maths520 show them clearly. This topic is important for Higher GCSE students.

 

 

Have you got it? Try these questions on BBC Bitesize. then continue to these. Also try the jigsaw.

Transformation of graphs

 GCSE, GCSE Higher, Graphs, Graphs and Charts, Uncategorized, You tube video  No Responses »
May 122014
 

This video is quite long so you might want to watch it in two sittings, but it does explain clearly what higher GCSE students need to know about transformation of graphs. Thank you Ukmathsteacher!

Maths is fun has a good explanation of this with some nice interactive activities and questions. Bitesize activities are here.

Probability Tree Diagrams

 GCSE Higher, GCSE Maths, probability, Uncategorized, You tube video  No Responses »
May 122014
 

Thanks to Ron Barrow for this helpful example of how to use probability tree diagrams. 158,411 views is impressive! You need to know this if you are taking the GCSE Higher paper.

This video by Luke Redding is also very clear and takes the topic a bit further because it includes experiments where the item is not replaced.

Maths is fun also explains this well and includes some interactive questions. GCSE Bitesize is another good site to test yourself on this.

 

 

 

Visualising 3 dimensional shapes from their nets.

 3d shape, GCSE, GCSE Higher, GCSE Maths, nets, Shape, Uncategorized, Website  No Responses »
May 062014
 

Some students find it incredibly difficult to visualise nets being folded up into 3 dimensional shapes. The best way to gain confidence with this is having fun making lots of different shapes and I have already blogged about an excellent site for this where you can print off all sorts of nets and make some amazing shapes. With exams rapidly approaching you may not have time for that so here is a page from Nrich where you can watch 24 different nets being folded up to make 3d shapes. Before you press play each time try to work out what the shape will look like when it is folded, then see if you were right.

Maths Tricks

 Addition, big numbers, Decimals, Division, Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, factors, Fractions, GCSE, indices, Level 1, Level 2, Mobile Phone App, multiples, Multiplication, negative numbers, Number, Percentages, Prime Numbers, Subtraction, Uncategorized  No Responses »
May 062014
 

Here is a great phone app that will help you with your arithmetic so you don’t need to be afraid when you are faced with that non-calculator exam. It’s called Maths Tricks and shows you lots of short cuts to performing calculations and gives you endless practice to improve your speed and accuracy. Best of all it’s free!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dexterltd.maths.tricks_lite

You can find it on Google Play. I am recommending this because it is good, not because I have any connection to the app.