1.

Estimation & Measurement

2.

Rounding

3.

Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division

4.

Scientific Notation / Standard Form

5.

Fractions

6.

Percentages

7.

Proportion

8.

Time

9.

Algebraic Expressions, Equations & Formulae

10. Co-ordinates
11. Data & Analysis

Estimation & Measurement

Estimate / measure height and length in mm, cm, m
and angle sizes in degrees

eg. length of pencil 10cm

width of desk 0.5m
diameter of 1p coin 15mm

Estimate / measure weight in g and kg, area in cm2,

m2 and hectares and volume / capacity in cm3, m3
and l
eg. bag of sugar 1kg
area of window 4m2
volume of drinks can 300ml

Estimation & Measurement

Learn equivalences
10mm
1000mm
1cm3
1000cm3
10000m2

=
=
=
=
=

1cm
100cm =
1ml
1000ml =
1 hectare

1m
1l

Rounding
Round to the nearest whole number,
10 or 100
eg.

74 to the nearest 10 = 70
347.5 to the nearest whole number = 348

Round to any number of decimal

places or significant figures
eg.

7.51
=
3.14159 =
=
0.00231 =

7.5(1dp)
3.142 (3dp)
3.14 (3sp)
0.002 (1sf)

Rounding

When the next number is a 5 always round up

Never round as you go along just at the end

Always round your final answer to the same level

of accuracy as your starting values
Watch out for necessary rounding
eg. If 90 children and 4 teachers go on a trip, how many
40-seater coaches would be needed ?
94 40 = 2.35 coaches which has to be rounded up
or some people will be left behind !

Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division

Subtract using decomposition (as a written method)

eg. 271
-38
233

Do not borrow and pay back

Calculate using alternative mental methods when
appropriate
eg. 478-99
= 379 by subtracting 100 then adding 1
eg. 1+2+3+ +8+9+10
= 11 x 5
= 55

Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division

Use correct order of operations

Remember BODMAS (or BOMDAS)

Brackets
Order
Divide
Multiply
Add
Subtract

eg.

18 7 x 2
= 18 14
=4

eg.

(14 + 12) (6 4)
= 26 2
= 13

Scientific Notation or Standard Form

Write large or small numbers in standard form and vice versa

eg.

24500000 = 2.45 x 107

0.000988 = 9.88 x 10-4

Write as a x 10n where a is between 1 and 10

Use a calculator to carry out calculations involving standard form

eg.

To avoid confusion do not use 10x on calculator

Different calculators have different displays - learn how yours

works

Fractions

Find simple fractions of a quantity

eg.

1/5 of 70
= 70 5
= 14

eg.

2/3 of 120
= 120 3 x 2
= 80

Divide by the denominator, multiply by the numerator

Use equivalence of widely used fractions and decimals

eg.

3/10 = 0.3

eg.

Fractions

Add and subtract fractions

Common denominator for adding and subtracting

Never use decimals in a fraction question

Fractions
Multiply fractions

Fractions

Cancel numerators and denominators first if possible to

simplify figures

Always write final answer as a mixed number

Always give your answer in its simplest form
Never cancel two numbers on the top/or bottom

Never use a common denominator when multiplying

Divide Fractions

To divide, invert second fraction and multiply

Dont use a calculator for calculations involving fractions

Percentages

Find 50%, 331/3%, 10% and 1% without a calculator

and use addition to find other amounts

eg. 50% of 240

= of 240
= 120

eg. 15% of 360

= 10% of 360 + 5% of 360
= 36 + 18
= 54

Express some fractions as a percentage without a

calculator

eg.

Percentages

Find percentages with a calculator

eg. 23% of 300

= 0.23 x 300
= 69

Express fractions as percentages using a calculator

eg. A caravan was bought for 3000 and sold for 3250

What was the profit as a percentage of the cost price ?

Profit = 3250 - 3000 = 250

Percentages

Carry out calculations involving percentage increase

and decrease

eg. Increase 350 by 15%

(100% + 15% = 115%)
1.15 x 350
= 402.50

Always change percentages to decimals when using a

calculator

Never use the percentage button on your calculator

Proportion

Use the unitary method (ie. find the value of one

first, then multiply by the required value)

eg. Direct
If 5 bananas cost 80p, what do 3 bananas cost ?

3 bananas cost 48p

eg. Inverse
The journey time at 60km/h
is 30 minutes, so what is the
journey time at 50km/h ?

The journey time at 50km/h is 36 minutes

Proportion

Always communicate answer

Dont round until the last stage

Time

Convert between 12 and 24 hour clock

eg. 2327 = 11.27pm

Do not write 2327pm

Calculate duration in hours and minutes by counting

up to the next hour then on to the required time,
including pm am times

Remember the cross-eyed frog !

Time

Change minutes to hours and hours to minutes

eg. 27 mins

=
=

27 60 hrs
0.45 hrs

eg. 0.2hrs

=
=

0.2 x 60 mins
12 mins

Use the link between time, speed and distance to

carry out related calculations
Speed = 42 km/h
Distance = 800km
D
S

Algebraic Expressions, Equations & Formulae

Solving Equations

By balancing / using the flag method

Performing the same operation to each side of the equation

Doing undo operations eg. undo + with -

Using statements like

multiply both sides by

Algebraic Expressions, Equations & Formulae

One equal sign per line, written underneath each other

Work down the page
Write the letter x differently from a multiplication sign

Never change side, change sign

Do not write nonsense statements, such as 2x = 6 = 3

Algebraic Expressions, Equations & Formulae

Formulae

Write down the formulae first

Substitute clearly
Simplify the expression
Communicate answer fully

Always show all steps in working

Always substitute first, then re-arrange as necessary to solve the equation

Co-ordinates

Cartesian Co-ordinates are pairs of numbers separated by a

comma and enclosed in brackets. Each pair of numbers gives
the position of a point relative to an origin O, eg. (3,4) is 3
units to the right along the x-axis and 4 units in the positive
y-direction and (-3, -2) is 3 to the left and 3 down.

The points are marked where the lines cross, and not in the spaces
The order matters in that (3, 4) is not in the same place as (4, 3)
(Remember: along the corridor then up (or down) the stairs !)

Data and Analysis

Use a pencil and ruler

Give the graph a title
Label lines
Label the frequency up the side
Label on lines, not on spaces

Bar Graph
Construct and interpret bar graphs
eg.

Make sure each bar has equal width

Label each bar in its centre

Line Graph
Construct and interpret line graphs
The distance a gas travels over time has
been recorded in the table below

Distance travelled by a gas over time

Plot points neatly using a cross or dot

If the lower point of a graph has been
missed out, use a jagged line to show this

Scatter Graph
Construct and interpret scatter graphs

Draw a line of best fit when there is a correlation

Pie Charts
Construct pie charts involving simple
fractions, decimals or percentages
eg. 30% of pupils travel to school by bus
10% by car, 55% walk and 5% cycle
Bus
Car
Walk
Cycle

30% of 360
10% of 360
55% of 360
5% of 360

= 108
= 36
= 198
= 18
360

check

Pie Charts
Construct pie charts of raw data

eg. 20 pupils were asked what is your favourite subject?

Replies were Maths 5, English 6, Science 7, Art 2
Maths
English
Science
Art

5 20 x 360 = 90
6 20 x 360 = 108
7 20 x 360 = 126
2 20 x 360 = 36
360

check