0
Statistics and Probability
Maths FAQs
Algebra
Click to View the 75+ Questions already here...
Forming, Using and Solving Expressions
[1*] How do you form equations and algebraic expressions from sentences or wordy questions?
[2*] When the angles of a triangle are given in algebraic form, do I have to find out what 'x' is?
[3*] When a questions requires to find the area and/or perimeter but the sides of the shape have been given as algebraic expressions, why do we use brackets?
Algebraic Fractions - H
[1] For Algebraic Fractions, what do you do to the numerator or denominator when there is a x^2 subtracting a square number?
Equations of Linear Lines (Gradients, Parallel - H, Perpendicular - H)
[1] What does the 'negative reciprocal' mean? - H
[2] For Equations of Straight Lines, will the x-coordinate always be 0?
Factorise, Expand, Simplify and Solve
[1] What does 'expand' mean?
[2] What is the difference between 'factorising' and 'solving'?
[3] When simplifying, can I take x from x^2 or add the two terms together?
[4] When solving, and there is a fraction on one side of the equal sign in algebraic equations, why do I multiply both sides by the denominator?
[5] When solving equations, such as 2y = -6, is it always RHS divided by LHS?
[6] If expanding, what happens when you multiply x^2 by x?
[7] When simplifying by collecting "like terms", do -px and -px cancel out, where p is any integer?
[8] When expanding triple brackets, can you multiply any two brackets together to begin?
[9] Does a^2 + a^2 = 2a^2?
[10] Is (-x)^2 still a negative or do the two minuses cancel out?
[11] Will we have to factorise cubic expressions?
[12*] When working out algebraic equations, can I move the numbers before the Xs?
[13*] When solving, does it matter which side of the equal sign I do more things to?
[14] In solving, and there is a square root on one side of the equals sign, to get rid of it, would I square the equation?
[15] When solving equations, do I equal it to 0?
[16] If the final answer includes 1/2, and it says "give your answer in its simplest form" which one would be right?
Functions | Inverse and Composite - H
[1*] Why do we change f(x) to y?
[2*] Where did gf(x) come from?
[3] What is the point of doing the inverse of a function?
Rearranging Formulae
[1] When rearranging formulae, will I get marks for factorising my final answer?
[2] Once I have rearranged an equation, is that it?
Sequences (Linear, Quadratic - H)
[1*] For Quadratic Sequences, what are the rules for formulating the nth term?
[2*] How do I work out the rest of the nth term of a Quadratic Sequence following the xn^2 part?
[3] In Quadratic Sequences, where does the extra number come from?
Simultaneous Equations (Linear, Quadratic - H)
[1*] What is the difference between Linear and Quadratic Simultaneous Equations?
[2*] How do you know when a question requires Simultaneous Equations to calculate and solve the word problem?
[3] For Simultaneous Equations, is it better to subtract the smallest Xs from the biggest, or the smallest total number from the biggest?
[4*] For Linear Simultaneous Equations, when do I use the adding method?
[5*] In Simultaneous Equations, what is a quick way of making the unknowns the same?
[6] For Linear Simultaneous Equations, do I have to multiply everything in the equation by the same number?
[7] For Simultaneous Equations, do I have to put 0x or 0y to indicate the elimination?
[8] Do Simultaneous Equations come up on the Non Calculator or Calculator paper?
[9*] For Linear Simultaneous Equations, where there are different operations in the equations, do I make those the same?
[10*] For Quadratic Simultaneous Equations, what is the point of finding two more values?
[11] For Linear Simultaneous Equations, does it matter whether you make the Xs or the Ys the same?
[12*] For Quadratic Simultaneous Equations, does the Linear expression always have to be / rearranged to 'y=...' whilst the other is 'x^2 + y^2 =...'?
[13] For Linear Simultaneous Equations, if I make the Xs the same, do I need to make the Ys the same as well?
Quadratics
[1] When solving, and I have a quadratic, what do I do next?
[2] In Quadratics, can I divide everything by x?
[3*] For Quadratics where there is a single bracket being squared, would I have to write the bracket out twice?
[4*] What is the FOIL method? How does it work? Do I always have to use it?
[5] When there is a square root on one side of my solving, can I not do anything with it?
[6] In questions with x^2, does a = 1?
[7] What does x-coefficient mean?
[8*] How do you know which method to use when solving / finding the values of x in a Quadratic?
[9*] In Solving Quadratic questions when the sides of a shape are in linear algebraic expressions, how do I know which of the x-values to choose from, if I need to substitute an x-value into an algebraic expression for a measurement?
Solving Quadratics | Factorisation (with Coefficients - H)
[1*] What does it mean by the 'difference of two squares'?
[2*] With Factorisation to solve for x values, for which do I have to find two numbers that multiply to get it, and then add to get something else?
[3] When solving quadratics by Factorisation, will it always be equal to 0?
[4*] How do I know which factor to put into which bracket?
[5*] How do I factorise quadratics with a coefficient of x^2? ie. a > 1
Video/Audio explanation COMING SOON
Solving Quadratics | Quadratic Formula - H
[1] How do I know if I need to use the Quadratic Formula?
[2*] What is the discriminant?
[3*] When using the Quadratic Formula, do you put brackets around the square symbol too?
[4*] If 'b' is negative in the quadratic equation, then does it become positive for the '-b' part of the Quadratic Formula?
[5] For the Quadratic Formula, do I have to put the minus symbol with 'b'?
[6*] In the Quadratic Formula, how do I know what my a, b and c are?
[7] Is the Quadratic Formula equal to 0?
[8*] Do you have to write down both answers for 'x' in Quadratic Formula questions?
[9*] With the Quadratic Formula, what happens when both a and c are positive or negative?
Solving Quadratics | Completing the Square - H
[1] When solving Completing the Square questions, do you change the answer into a decimal or leave as a surd?
[2*] Why is there a 'p' in the Completing the Square question? ie. (x + p)^2 + q
[3*] When questions state "give answer in the form...", why is there a '+' there? ie. (x + a)^2 + b. My answer has a subtraction sign!
[4] In Completing the Square questions, when you need to find the minimum value, what is the purpose of the 'y'?
[5*] What do the 3 equal sign lines mean?
Graphs (Quadratic, Cubic and Reciprocal)
[1] What is a 'parabola'?
Geometry and Measures
We are currently loading questions for this section...
Angles | Parallel Lines
[1] What do the pairs of arrowheads on lines mean?
[2] For Angles between parallel lines, is it only co-interior angles that add up to 180 degrees?
[3*] Why are angles written as three letters?
Angles | Polygons (Interior and Exterior)
[1] COMING SOON...?
Circle Theorems - H
[1] For Circle Theorems, what does the 'O' mean?
[2] For Cyclic Quadrilaterals (in Circle Theorems), would I gain / lose marks for putting a + b = 180 degrees, if in a rush?
[3] In the reasoning for same segment angles (in Circle Theorems), os there a difference between saying "same two points" and "common chord" or are they the same thing?
[4] For Cyclic Quadrilateral reasons, do you have to include that all 4 points must touch the circumference of the circle?
[5*] Why are angles written as three letters?
[6*] In Circle Theorems, what would happen if you wrote descriptions / reasons the other way around? ie. Angle at centre vs. circumference
Circles | Circumference, Area, Arcs, Sectors and Segments
[1] Will I have to know the formulas of Circles - Length of Arcs, and Areas of Sectors and Segments?
[2] When answering questions that ask for the answer in terms of pi, do I still put the units afterwards?
[3] What is the difference between the term "shaded region" and "shaded segment" or are they the same?
Compound Shapes
COMING SOON...
Pythagoras' Theorem (incl. 3D - H)
[1] Is there a quicker way of doing Pythagoras' Theorem questions?
[2] In Pythagoras, do I still have to square the longest side?
Shapes | Perimeters, Areas, Volumes and Descriptions
COMING SOON...
Similarity and Congruence
COMING SOON...
Trigonometry
COMING SOON...
Trigonometry | SOHCAHTOA
COMING SOON...
Trigonometry | Sine and Cosine Rules - H
[1*] How do you know when to use Sine Rule vs. Cosine Rule?
[2*] When using the Sine or Cosine Rule, does it matter how I label my own triangle? Can you label your triangle yourself?
[3*] For Cosine Rule (finding an angle), does it matter which numbers are a, b and c? How do you know which one to minus?
Trigonometry | Areas of Non Right Angle Triangles - H
COMING SOON...
Trigonometry | Exact Values
COMING SOON...
Vectors (Column, Proofs - H)
[1] What do the arrows on questions about Vectors indicate?
[2] How do we know when it is a Vectors' question?
Number
COMING SOON
BIDMAS / Rules of Operations
COMING SOON...
Bounds - H
COMING SOON...
Conversions | Decimals, Fractions and Percentages
COMING SOON...
Powers and Roots
Content Toggle Headline
Index Laws
[1] What happens when you multiply x^2 by x?
Standard Form
COMING SOON...
Surds - H
COMING SOON...
Using a Calculator
COMING SOON...
Rounding
COMING SOON...
Rounding | Decimal Places
COMING SOON...
Rounding | Significant Figures
COMING SOON...
Ratio / Proportion / Rate of Change
COMING SOON
Simple and Compound Interest, Rate of Depreciation
COMING SOON...
Conversions | Units
COMING SOON...
Direct and Inverse Proportions
COMING SOON...
Statistics and Probability
COMIING SOON
Averages
COMING SOON...
Frequency Trees
COMING SOON...
Scatter Graphs
COMING SOON...
Venn Diagrams
COMING SOON...
General
Questions are loading here...
Foundation Tier vs. Higher Tier
[1] What topics are only related to HIGHER Tier?
[2] If the Foundation Tier paper focuses on Grades 5-1 topics and Higher Tier paper focuses on Grades 9-4 topics, does that mean Higher Tier students do not need to know Grades 3-1 topics?
Mathematical Notation / Diagram Details
[1*] What do the 3 equal sign lines mean?
[2*] Why are angles written as three letters?
[3*] Will they always use the dashes on lines of equal length, ie isosceles triangles?
Terminology / Glossary
[1] What does 'x-coefficient' mean?
[2] What is a 'parabola'?
[3] What does 'expand' mean?
[4] What is the 'discriminant'?
Mark Scheme
[1] What is the difference between 'method marks' and 'accuracy marks'?
COMING SOON! Audio/Video versions for further explanations by The UK's No.1 Maths Coach
