Working with double angle formulae (A-level Maths)
The A-level Maths specification requires you to work with formulae for compound angles – sin (A ± B), cos (A ± B), tan (A ± B) – and use these to derive and use a range of double angle formulae,…
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A-level | Core Maths | Edexcel IGCSE | Functional Maths | GCSE | Maths
Using Ratio mode on your Classwiz calculator
All the Casio Classwiz calculator models – both the original “X” and the new “CW” models – feature ratio mode, which didn’t exist on their predecessor the fx-83/85 GT Plus. Although it’s perfectly possible to get by without ever using…
A-level | BTEC L3 Engineering | Core Maths | Edexcel IGCSE | Functional Maths | GCSE | Maths | Tech
The new Casio Classwiz CW calculators
In early 2023, Casio replaced the popular Classwiz fx-83/85GT X and fx-991EX calculator models with the Classwiz fx-83/85GT CW and the fx-991CW. The change is a lot less trivial than you might think! A short (recent) history of Casio scientific…
How to resolve a vector into components
In the first year of A-level Maths, all the vectors you deal with are given to you in component form, i.e. as two perpendicular components, e.g. $\begin{pmatrix}2\\-3\end{pmatrix}$ or 2i – 3j. In the second year, however, you’re more likely to…
Direct and inverse proportion for Higher GCSE
For Foundation GCSE you just need to know what equations and graph shapes represent direct and inverse proportion, and work with equations given to you. That’s all covered in a previous article which you can find here. For Higher you…
Direct and inverse proportion for Foundation GCSE
For Foundation GCSE you need to know what equations and graph shapes represent direct and inverse proportion, and work with equations given to you, but you don’t have to actually derive the equations, as you do at Higher. You also…
Strategies for listing/calculating possible outcomes
The GCSE Maths topic of systematic listing strategies is all about working out how many possible outcomes there are – i.e. how many ways there are for something to happen – for example when finding probabilities. Sometimes the simplest way…
Equilibrium and resultant forces (A-level Maths Year 1)
This article, on equilibrium and resultant forces, follows on from my recent post on Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion, and covers part of the Mechanics content of the first year of A-level Maths – though I’m sure that a…
Why is the cost of theatre tickets so high?
This is a different kind of post from my usual, but it still involves numbers, and in a real-life context too: that of budgeting a musical theatre show and deciding how to set the cost of theatre tickets. As well…
How to answer Rate of Flow questions (GCSE Maths)
Rate of flow is a topic that’s sometimes omitted in GCSE Maths text books, or perhaps included in the form of just a question or two in the section on compound measures. It’s only needed for the Higher Tier so…
Mathematical notation you need for A-level – part 3
This is part 3 of a series covering the mathematical notation you need for A-level Maths. Click the links below for the previous parts:Part 1: set notation and miscellaneous symbolsPart 2: other Pure Maths notation This final instalment covers vectors…
More mathematical notation you need for A-level
Much of the mathematical notation that you need to know for A-level, you’ll already have come across at GCSE, but there are some symbols that you may not be familiar with and others that you certainly won’t have used before…
Mathematical notation you need for A-level
Much of the mathematical notation that you need to know for A-level, you’ll already have come across at GCSE, but there are some symbols that you may not be familiar with and others that you certainly won’t have used before…
Forces and Newton’s Laws for A-level Maths
You’ve probably done some work on forces and Newton’s laws of motion in GCSE Physics or Combined Science, and that forms the basis of a lot of the work covered in the Mechanics element of A-level Maths. This article is…
Finding the best Zoom alternatives – May 2022 (with Dec 2022 update)
In late April, word spread on social media that, from 2nd May 2022, Zoom was going to start limiting 1-to-1 calls on free accounts to 40 minutes. Time to start looking for Zoom alternatives! Many of us in the tutoring…
Factors, multiples, HCF and LCM questions and problems
In this post we’ll look at HCF and LCM questions, and other situations and types of problems where you need to use what you know about factors and multiples. They start off pretty straightforward, then go on to word problems…
Working with factors and multiples, HCF and LCM
Factors and multiples have a wide variety of uses in many different areas of Maths, so it’s a fundamental topic that you need to have a good grasp of. In this post we’ll look at how to identify a number’s…
10 Tough Problems for GCSE Maths Students
In this post I’m sharing a set of challenging problems for GCSE Maths students that I’ve put together with the aim of helping students to improve their problem-solving skills. They’re aimed mainly at those doing the Higher Tier, but some…
Advance information for 2022 Maths exams
Last week the exam boards published their advance information for this summer’s GCSE and A-level exams in England. They tell us what will be in the exams, but what’s harder to identify is the omissions: what won’t, and what we…
Exam skills for GCSE Maths: maximise your marks
Your exam skills can make a huge difference to your mark in GCSE Maths. Believe it or not, the examiner marking your Maths exam (or any other exam) wants to give you as many marks as possible! They want to…
How to handle Vectors for GCSE Maths (Higher Tier)
In this post we’re going to look at how you deal with the more difficult kinds of questions you’ll encounter on the topic of Vectors for GCSE Maths at Higher Tier. If you haven’t already read through the post on…
Can I really get a guaranteed A or A* at A-level?
“Guaranteed A or A* at A-level!” Have you seen an ad on social media for a course promising you (or your child) an A or A* at A-level, or your money back? Have you been tempted to sign up? Before…
How to revise GCSE Maths: 12 tips to help you succeed
With some subjects, reading your notes and making mind maps and more notes about the content works well. Maths isn’t like that. Read on for some tips on effective ways to revise GCSE Maths. Tip 1: The best way to…
Understanding Vectors for GCSE Maths (Foundation Tier)
Vectors for GCSE Maths is one of the topics that people tend to find hardest. Some questions are very challenging even for the strongest students, but getting to grips with the basics isn’t so difficult. In this article we’re going…
