Essential Maths Revision Guide
Volume calculations are simpler than they look - just multiply the area of the cross-section by the length. Think of it like finding how much space is inside a box by measuring one end and multiplying by how deep it goes.
Prime factorisation breaks numbers down to their basic building blocks. For example, 36 = 2² × 3² (or 2×2×3×3). These prime factors are like the DNA of numbers - they show you exactly what multiplies together to create them.
When rounding to decimal places, remember the golden rule: if the next digit is 5 or more, round up; if it's 4 or less, keep it the same. So 33.29 rounded to 1 decimal place becomes 33.3.
Multiplying fractions uses the box method - multiply the tops together and the bottoms together. It's actually easier than adding fractions because you don't need to worry about finding common denominators.
Quick Tip: For sequence formulas, the nth term often follows a pattern like 2n+1, where n is the position number.
Unit conversions follow predictable patterns: 10mm in 1cm, 100cm in 1m, 1000m in 1km. For weight and volume, remember 1kg = 1000g and 1L = 1000ml.
Negative numbers follow simple rules when multiplying - two negatives make a positive, whilst a positive and negative make a negative. Use a number line if you're unsure about adding or subtracting.
Standard form expresses very big or very small numbers neatly. Big numbers have positive powers (3.45 × 10⁴), whilst tiny numbers have negative powers (3.6 × 10⁻⁴). For estimation, round numbers to make calculations easier rather than working out exact answers.