Author Topic: maxwell has a maths exam tomorrow and he is worried  (Read 1160 times)

yes this is kind of important

http://www.sqa.org.uk/pastpapers/papers/papers/2014/N5_Mathematics_all_2014.pdf
http://www.sqa.org.uk/pastpapers/papers/instructions/2014/mi_N5_Mathematics_all_2014.pdf

basically I'm looking at practice papers and I have the answers, some questions though I'm buttforget clueless on so I've decided to make a topic and ask all the needed questions


can anyone solve this/knows how to solve this and show me their working? this is non calculator and I think you need to factorise first

This is just completing the square.

First you half the x coefficient (i.e 14/2 = 7) and set that = a
So you have:

(x-7)^2 + b

Then expand the brackets:

x^2 - 14x + 49 + b

Then looking at the constants, you know that 49 + b = 44
From this you find what b is: b = 44-49 = -5
Then the final answer is:

(x-7)^2 - 5

There are various ways to do this depending on how you were taught.


I'm clueless about this, but good luck on them man!

This is why I have trouble in Trigonometry

There is 73% chance Maxwell will fail algebra

Just remember the formulas and write down your work so if you forget up somewhere you'll be able to start from there instead of starting over.
aka study a bit more which you're already doing. Good work.

Just remember the formulas and write down your work so if you forget up somewhere you'll be able to start from there instead of starting over.
aka study a bit more which you're already doing. Good work.
we're given those formulas in the exam, but that doesn't excuse the fact I absolutely suck at mental math
thanks though

This is just completing the square.

First you half the x coefficient (i.e 14/2 = 7) and set that = a
So you have:

(x-7)^2 + b

Then expand the brackets:

x^2 - 14x + 49 + b

Then looking at the constants, you know that 49 + b = 44
From this you find what b is: b = 44-49 = -5
Then the final answer is:

(x-7)^2 - 5

There are various ways to do this depending on how you were taught.


I vaguely remember being taught it this way, this was a huge reminder for me, thanks


for this though, I'm kind of stuck, I'm guessing you factorise and then put it into brackets? this is from the calculator part lower down

you do the math part and you get an answer :cookie:

You tried looking on GCSE Bitesize? I know they cover Scottish curriculum.

They don't, you just got pranked bro.
They kind of do because I know they go over factorisation and stuff quite well but it's not solely Scottish[/s]



for this though, I'm kind of stuck, I'm guessing you factorise and then put it into brackets? this is from the calculator part lower down

Consider: (n^5 * 10n)/(2n^2) =  (10n^6)/(2n^2). You should know what to do from there.

10n^6 / 2n^2
10 / 2 = 5
6 - 2 = 4
so 5n^4

You tried looking on GCSE Bitesize? I know they cover Scottish curriculum.

They don't, you just got pranked bro.
They kind of do because I know they go over factorisation and stuff quite well but it's not solely Scottish[/s]
I could use the GSCE or national 5 section, which I've been doing as well as keeping this topic up, but I still really don't get it and it'd be better if I saw other forumers doing it

10n^6 / 2n^2
10 / 2 = 5
6 - 2 = 4
so 5n^4
I've never saw it done this way before, I guess I'll try to do it my way and compare the two

I could use the GSCE or national 5 section, which I've been doing as well as keeping this topic up, but I still really don't get it and it'd be better if I saw other forumers doing it
I see, textbooks and websites aren't exactly the best source of information because they're always really blunt and don't actually explain well enough

I'm in my calculus classroom right now waiting for my final but my professor is late.

Best o luck tuh ya, mate