Divide Button
Divides.

Keyboard equivalent = /


Addition Button
Adds.

Keyboard equivalent = +


Multiplication Button
Multiplies.

Keyboard equivalent = *


Subtract Button
Subtracts.

Keyboard equivalent = -


Equals Button
Performs any operation on the previous two numbers. To repeat the last operation, click again.

Keyboard equivalent = ENTER


Number Buttons
Puts this number in the calculator display.

Keyboard equivalent = 0-9


Positive/Negative Button
Changes the sign of the displayed number.

Keyboard equivalent = u


Decimal Point Button
Inserts a decimal point.

Keyboard equivalent = .


Reciprocal Button
Calculates the reciprocal of the displayed number.

Keyboard equivalent = g


Sin Button
Calculates the sine of the displayed number. To calculate the arc sine, use inv + sin.

Keyboard equivalent = s


Cos Button
Calculates the cosine of the displayed number. To calculate the arc cosine, use inv + cos.

Keyboard equivalent = c


Tan Button
Calculates the tangent of the displayed number. To calculate the arc tangent, use inv + tan.

Keyboard equivalent = t


Square Button
Squares the displayed number.

Keyboard equivalent = d


Square Root Button
Square roots the displayed number.

Keyboard equivalent = q


Percentage Button
Used to find the percentage of the displayed value.

Keyboard equivalent = %


Pi Button
Displays the value of pi (3.1415...).

Keyboard equivalent = p


Cancel All Button
 Clears the current calculation.

Keyboard equivalent = esc


Cancel Display Button
Clears the displayed number.

Keyboard equivalent = a or ctrl y


Min Button
Stores the displayed number in memory.

Keyboard equivalent = m


MR Button
Recalls the number stored in memory. The number remains in memory.

Keyboard equivalent = n


M+ Button
Adds the displayed number to any number already in memory.

Keyboard equivalent = b


MC Button
Clears any number stored in memory.

Keyboard equivalent = v


M-X Button
Replaces the number stored in the memory with the displayed number.

Keyboard equivalent = l


Display Button
This is the display window. The figure in the window may be dragged into other parts of the program or simply use the copy context menu.


Calculator Utility
calculator

Double click this to open the calculator.

This utility can be used for all scientific calculator functions.


Unit Utility
units

Double click this to open the units utility.

This utility lists all the units of measurement for you to drag into your answers when you need them.


Formulae Utility
formulae editor

Double click this to open the formulae editor.

This utility can be used to manipulate and rearrange equations.


Keysteps Utility
key steps

Double click this to open the key steps utility.

This utility lists all the key steps for you to drag into your answers when you need them.


Notepad Utility
notepad

Double click this to open the notepad.

The notepad can be used to store information in one convenient place, anything you can drag can be stored on the notepad and you can type your own notes straight in.


Index Utility
index

Double click this to open the index.

The index gives you access to all the learning points to help you work out your answers.


Units
form:

This is the units utility.  When you need them, you can drag different units of measure into your answers from the tree.  If you are working with measured quantities, you should always include units of measure in your answers so that the person reading them will know how large or small the results are.


Length Units
Length is what you are measuring when you find the distance between two points in a straight line.


Millimetres
Millimetres (mm) are the smallest measurement that you can make with the naked eye.  You use mm when you want to be very accurate.  Milli means thousandth, so millimetre means thousandth of a metre.  This means that there are 1000mm in 1 metre.


Centimetres
Centimetres (cm) are used to make small measurements.  A cm is about as long as the finger nail on your little finger.  Centi means hundredth, so centimetre means hundredth of a metre.  This means that there are 100cm in 1 metre and 10mm in 1cm.


Metres
Metres (m) are the everyday measurement used for length.  If you stretch your arm out, a metre is about as long as the distance from the tip of your nose to the end of your fingers.  1m is equal to 100cm and 1000mm.


Kilometres
Kilometres (km) are used to measure long lengths, like the distances between towns.  Kilo means thousand, so kilometre means thousand metres.  This means that 1km is equal to 1000m.


Area Units
Area is the measurement of how much surface a shape covers.  For a rectangle, the area is found by multiplying the lengths of the two sides together (length x breadth).  Area is measured in square units which are written as raised to a index or power of 2, for example square millimetres are written as mm2.


Millimetres2
Millimetres (mm²) are used to measure very small areas.  1 millimetre squared is the area inside a square which has sides 1mm long.


Centimetres2
Centimetres squared (cm²) are used to measure the areas of smaller objects.  A typical surface to measure in cm2 would be a piece of paper.  An A4 sheet measures 29.7cm x 21cm and so has an area of 623.7cm2.  1 square centimetre is the area inside a square which has sides that measure 1cm.

1cm = 10mm so:

1cm2 = 1cm x 1cm = 10mm x 10mm = 100mm2.


Metres2
Metres squared (m²) are used to measure the areas of everyday surfaces.  You would use m2 to measure surfaces like the amount of carpet you would need to cover the floor of a room.  1 square metre is the area contained inside a square which has sides that measure 1m.

1m = 100cm so:

1m2 = 1m x 1m = 100cm x 100cm = 10000cm2.


Kilometres2
Kilometres squared (km²) are used to measure large surfaces, for example areas of land.  1 square kilometre is the area contained inside a square which has sides that measure 1Km.

1Km = 1000m so:

1Km2 = 1Km x 1Km = 1000m x 1000m = 1000000m2.


Volume Units
Volume is the measurement of how much space something occupies in 3 dimensions.  For a cube, the volume is found by multiplying the length x breadth x height.  Volume is measured in cubed units which are written as raised to an index or power of 3, for example, cubic metres are written as m3.  Volume is often called capacity when referring to how much liquid a container will hold.


Millimetres3
Millimetres cubed (mm³) are used to measure very small volumes.  1 millimetre cubed is the volume inside a cube which has sides 1mm long.


Centiimetres3
Centimetres cubed (cm³) are used to measure small and everyday solids.  1 centimetre cubed is the volume contained inside a cube which has sides that measure 1cm.

1cm = 10mm so:

1cm3 = 1cm x 1cm x 1cm = 10mm x 10mm  x 10mm = 1000mm3.


Metres3
Metres cubed (m³) are used to measure large volumes such as crates.  1 metre cubed is the volume contained inside a cube which has sides that measure 1m.

1m = 100cm so:

1m3 = 1m x 1m x1m = 100cm x 100cm x 100cm  = 1000000cm3.


Millilitres
Millilitres (ml) are used for very small measurements of volumes of liquids. You use ml when you want to be very accurate, for example when measuring out medicine.  Milli means thousandth, so millilitre means thousandth of a litre.  This means that there are 1000ml in 1 litre.


Centilitres
Centilitres (cl) are used to make small measurements of volumes of liquids.  Centi means hundredth, so centilitre means hundredth of a litre.  This means that there are 100cl in 1 litre and 10ml in 1cl.


Litres
Litres (l) are the everyday measurement used for volumes of liquid.  Soft drinks are usually sold in large plastic 2l bottles.  1l is equal to 100cl and 1000ml.


Mass
Mass is what you are measuring when you weigh an object.


Milligrams
Milligrams (mg) are very small and accurate units of mass.  They are used for things like drugs and chemicals.  Milli means thousandth, so milligram means thousandth of a gram.  This means that there are 1000mg in 1 gram.


Grams
Grams (g) are used to weigh smaller objects such as the ingredients in a recipe.  A chocolate bar, for example, would weigh around 50g.  There are 1000mg in 1 gram.


Kilograms
Kilograms (Kg) are used to weigh everyday objects like parcels or people.  A bag of sugar weighs 1Kg.  Kilo means thousand, so kilogram means thousand grams. This means that 1Kg is equal to 1000g.


Tonnes
Tonnes (t) are used to very heavy objects such as the cargo on board container ships.  1tonne is equal to 1000kilograms.


Time
Time is the measurement of how long something takes to happen.  Times can be given between two events or between one event starting and stopping or relative to the time of the day (each day is divided into 24 hours).  So you could say that your journey to visit a friend took 1 hour or you could say that you set off at 11:00 and arrived at 12:00.


Seconds
Seconds (s) are used to measure things that happen quickly, such as 100m races.  If necessary, more accurate measurements can be taken using a stop watch to get tenths, hundredths and thousandths of seconds.  There are 60 seconds in 1 minute.


Minutes
Minutes (min) pass more slowly than seconds and are used to measure times for things like journey times.  There are 60 minutes in 1 hour and 60 seconds in 1 minute.


Hours
Hours (h) are used to measure longer periods of time.  There are 24 hours in 1 day and 1 hour is equal to 60 minutes.


Days
Days (d) are measurements of time based on how long it takes for the earth to complete one whole revolution on its axis, for the sun to rise, set and night to pass before the sun rises again.  There are 24 hours in 1 day and usually 365 days in 1 year.


Weeks
Weeks are periods of time equal to 7 days.  Each day of the week has its own name and they repeat once every week.  The days of the week are:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

The cycle then starts again with Monday.  There are approximately 4.333 weeks in one month and 52 weeks in a year.


Months
Months are periods of time useful for dividing years into more manageable amounts, salaries, for example, are usually paid every month.  Each month has its own name and the following number of days:

January	31 days

February	28 days (29 every 4 years)

March	31 days

April	30 days

May	31 days

June	30 days

July	31 days

August	31 days

September	30 days

October	31 days

November	30 days

December	31 days

There are 12 months in 1 year before the cycle starts again at January.


Years
Years are measurements of time based on how long it takes for the earth to complete one whole revolution around the sun.  There are 365 days in 1 year (except every 4 years when there is a leap year with 366 days) and 12 months in 1 year.  People usually give their ages based on how many whole years have passed since they were born.


Speed Units
Speeds are what are known as compound measures as they depend on a mix of two different types of measurement, distance and time.  They tell us how far an object will move in one unit of time.

Average speed = distance travelled

time taken

For example the speed limit in towns is 30 miles per hour, so a car that drives for 1hour will go 30 miles.  If the same car travels for ½ hour at the same speed it will only travel 15 miles.


Metres per Second
Metres per second (m/s)  are used to measure slower moving objects such as the speeds athletes run at.  A minus sign (-) in front of a speed means that an object is going backwards.  Metres per second may also be written as ms-1.


Kilometres per Hour
Kilometres per hour (km/h) are used to measure faster moving objects such as cars, trains and planes.  A minus sign (-) in front of a speed means that an object is going backwards.  Kilometres per hour may also be written as kmh-1.


Metres per Second per Second
Metres per second per second (m/s²) is the unit used to measure acceleration.  Acceleration is the rate at which the speed of a moving object increases.  When a runner sets off, their speed increases rapidly from stopped 0m/s to the fastest they can manage.  In this period they are accelerating.  Once the runner reaches their top speed, they stop accelerating.  A minus sign (-) in front of an acceleration means that an object is slowing down.  Metres per second per second may also be written as ms-².


Currency
Currency is the name given to the units in which money is measured.


Pounds
Pounds (£) are the basic measure of British currency. There are 100 pence in 1 pound.

If pounds and pence are mixed, a decimal point is used to separate the pence from the pounds, so £3.56 means 3 pounds and 56 pence.  Units should not be mixed, so you would not write the above price as £3.56p.


Pence
Pence (p) are the smallest measurement of British currency.  There are 100 pence in 1 pound.  If pounds and pence are mixed, a decimal point is used to separate the pence form the pounds, so £3.56 means 3 pounds and 56 pence.  Units should not be mixed, so you would not write the above price as £3.56p.


Lower Quartile
Lower Quartile - The lower, or first, quartile is the value which is a quarter of the way from the lower end of the range of data.


Chronological Bar Charts
Chronological Bar Charts - These are made up of a series of lines and compare quantities over periods of time.


Discrete
Discrete Data - Discrete data can have only certain values. You can take either one value or the next. For example shoe size, money, number of people in a family.


Frequency Distribution
Frequency Distribution - Frequency distributions are used to organise raw data. A frequency distribution shows the number of times a particular item of raw data occurs.


Grouped Data
Grouped Data - Grouped data is data that is collected into classes or categories.


Frequency Density
Frequency Density - Frequency Density is the frequency per class of a given size. This gives an average of the frequency of all the values in that particular class.


Correlation
Correlation - When changes in one variable are linked to changes in another, we say there is correlation between the two variables.


Cumulative Frequency
Cumulative Frequency - Cumulative Frequency is the accumulation of values within a frequency distribution table.


Second Quartile
Second Quartile - The second quartile is the middle value, or median for the range of data.


Upper Quartile
Upper Quartile - The upper or third quartile is the value which is three quarters of the way from the lower end of the range of data.


Modal class
Modal Class - The modal class of a group of data is the group or class that contains most members, or the class with the highest frequency.


Mean
Mean - Mean is the sum of values divided by the number of values.


Mode
Mode - The Mode is the value which occurs most often in a set of data.


Median
Median - The Median is the value which lies half way along a sequence.


Factor 4
The factors have started to repeat themselves. Dividing by 4 gives the factors 4 and 5, dividing by 5 gives the same factors, 5 and 4.


Factor 5
As the dividing number goes up, the result goes down. Once the result goes under 2, there are no more whole numbers until 1. 1 is the always the first number in the list, so there will be no more factors until then.


Currency graph to show the exchange rate
       Currency Graph (£ to $).


Currency graph to show how the exchange rate fluctuates
Currency Graph (£ to $).


Variable rate graph
 Variable Rate Graph (£ to $).


Imperial to Metric graph
Imperial to Metric Graph.


Marking  a scale
Inches to Centimetres Conversion Graph


Plotting a graph using the origin
Inches to Centimetres Conversion Graph


Finding the value of the second measurement
Inches to Centimetres Conversion Graph


Drawing out the axis and marking up the scale
 	A Height / Month Graph


Plotting the points using the raw data
A Height / Month Graph


Drawing a line of best fit
    A Height / Month Graph


Reading the point of interception
    A Height / Month Graph


Labelling the graph
   A Height / Month Graph


Calculating straight line gradients
  Straight Line Graph


Acceleration Graph
       An Acceleration Graph


Calculating the Acceleration
       An Acceleration Graph


Divide the curve into equal strips
Finding the Area under the Curve


Draw a step using a higher number
Finding the Area under the Curve


Draw a step using a lower number
Finding the Area under the Curve


   Advanced Travel Graph


Launch Maths

Click on the calculator to start GCSE Maths.


Pythagoras

Pythagoras (around 582 - 500 BC), Head of the Mathematics Department in the Ultimate Staff Room. Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher and mathematician, famous for his discovery that the square of the hypotenuse on a right angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides - Pythagoras’ Theorem.


Charles Babbage

Charles Babbage (1792-1871), specialist in the area of Number in the Ultimate Staff Room.  Babbage was a British mathematician and inventor, famous for designing the Difference Engine and development of the Analytical Engine, the forerunners of today’s computers.


Josiah Willard Gibbs

Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839-1903), specialist in the area of Shape, Space and Measure in the Ultimate Staff Room.  Gibbs was an American mathematical physicist whose work on vector analysis and statistical mechanics was outstanding.


Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal (1623-62), specialist in the area of Handling Data in the Ultimate Staff Room. Pascal was a French philosopher, mathematician and physicist who invented the first mechanical adding machine in 1642.


Leonardo Fibonacci

Leonardo Fibonacci (around 1170-1240), specialist in Algebra in the Ultimate Staff Room. Fibonacci, also known as Leonardo of Pisa, was an Italian mathematician who contributed to the fields of algebra and number theory. Discoverer of the Fibonacci series (e.g. 1,2,3,5,8…) where each number in the series is the sum of the two numbers preceding it.


Calculator

Double click this to open the calculator. This utility can be used for all scientific calculator functions.


Units

Double click this to open the units utility. This utility lists all the units of measurement for you to drag into your answers when you need them.


Equation editor

Double click this to open the equation editor.

This utility can be used to manipulate and rearrange equations.


Key Steps

Double click this to open the Key Steps utility.

This utility lists all the key steps for you to drag into your answers when you need them.


Notepad

Double click this to open the notepad.

The notepad can be used to store information in one convenient place, anything you can drag can be stored on the notepad and you can type your own notes straight in.


Index

Double click this to open the index.

The index gives you access to all the learning points to help you to work out your answers.


Tier

Click here to set your tier, then click on OK.

If you don’t know your tier, start with foundation.


Tutorial

Click here to see the tutorial.

The tutorial is also available from the Help menu.


Acknowledgements

Click here to find out about the production team.


Number

Double click here to see the main groups for this area.

or

Single click, then click on the Run button to run the topics in this area.


Algebra

Double click here to see the main groups for this area.

or

Single click, then click on the Run button to run the topics in this area.


Shape and Space

Double click here to see the main groups for this area.

or

Single click, then click on the Run button to run the topics in this area.


Handling Data

Double click here to see the main groups for this area.

or

Single click, then click on the Run button to run the topics in this area.


Groups of topics

Double click here to see all the related sub-groups for this group

or

Single click, then click on the Run button to run the topics in this group.


Sub-groups of topics

Double click here to see all the related topics for this sub-group

or

Single click, then click on the Run button to run the topics in this sub-group.


Topics

Double click here to run this topic

or

Single click, then click on the Run button.


Run button

Click here to see the Run Mode box.


Run Maths

Click here to run all of the Maths program.


Run highlighted topic(s) only

Click here to run only the topic or groups of topics that are highlighted.


Learning Mode

Click here to select learning mode - which shows you only the presentations.


Test Mode

Click here to select test mode - which shows you only the questions.


Back

Click here to page back.


Next

Click here to go on.


Quick Page

Click here to see a summary of all the pages and Key Steps for this topic.


Question

Click here to see a question.


Quick Page List

Click on any item in this list to jump to that page in the presentation.

When answering questions, key steps can be dragged from here.


Next Learning Point

Click here to see the next learning point.


Return to Menu

Click here to return to the menu.


Tutor Help

Click here to see the presentation for this question.


Number Key Steps

Double click here to see the groups of key steps for this area.


Algebra Key Steps

Double click here to see the groups of key steps for this area.


Shape and Space Key Steps

Double click here to see the groups of key steps for this area.


Handling Data Key Steps

Double click here to see the groups of key steps for this area.


Groups of Key Steps

Double click here to see the key steps for this group.


Key Steps

This is a Key Step. You can click and drag Key Steps from here into your answer.


Magnifying glass

Click here to zoom into the graph.


Preferences

You can select preferences for appearance, settings and scoring.

Appearance allows you to turn the tutor, sound and background graphic on/off.

Settings allows you to turn synchronised text, masked presentation and auto open on/off.

Scoring allows you to set your preferred pass mark.


Score

This column shows your question scores.


Square

A Square has four sides of equal length.  Each interior “corner” angle is 90º.  The two diagonals are of equal length and bisect (cut exactly in half) each other at 90º.


Rectangle

A Rectangle has opposite sides that are of equal length.  Each interior “corner” angle is 90º.  The two diagonals are of equal length and bisect (cut exactly in half) each other - but not at 90º.


Rhombus

A Rhombus is similar to a square, but looks as if it has been pushed out of line at the top (or bottom).  It has four sides of equal length, all the opposite interior “corner” angles are equal (but not 90º) and the diagonals are of equal length and bisect (cut exactly in half) each other at 90º.


Parallelogram

 A Parallelogram (note the spelling) is an elongated rhombus, having opposite sides of equal length, equal opposite interior “corner” angles (not 90º) and diagonals that bisect (cut exactly in half) each other - but not at 90º.


Trapezium

A Trapezium does not necessarily have any sides of equal length, but has two sides that are parallel to each other.  (Parallel sides are lines that are always the same distance apart.)


Triangle

A Triangle is a polygon with three straight-lined sides (and therefore is not a quadrilateral).  The three sides can be of any length and can be at any angle to each other.


See Also

Click on items in this list to see related topics


Number cell

Can display numbers, algebraic terms (e.g. x, y) or operators (+ -  × ÷)

To insert a number, click on the cell to highlight it, then type the number.

To insert an operator or an algebraic term, highlight the cell, then either type the symbol from the keyboard or right click on the cell to select a symbol from the menu.


Index cell

These cells display index numbers. Click on the cell to highlight it, then type the number. For a negative index number, type the number first, then the minus sign.

You cannot enter an index number unless there is a number in the number cell below it.


Operator cell

Can display only operators (+ -  × ÷) or the fraction line. To insert an operator, click on the operator cell to highlight it, then type in the symbol from the keyboard. Alternatively, right click on the cell then select a symbol from the menu.


Equation editor input field

You can drag an equation from the question into this field to feed it quickly into the equation editor.


Key Steps input field

You must drag a key step into this field. This can be from a presentation, a Quick Page box or the Key Steps utility.


Graphic input field

You must drag graphics from the screen into here.


Draggable item

This item can be dragged into an input field.


Exam mode

This presents you with a random selection of questions from all four areas of mathematics. There is no help available in the test and you will be working against the clock!


Menu tick boxes

Select or de-select an area, group or topic from your customized course by clicking on the boxes to add or remove ticks.

You can also choose from this right-click menu to select or de-select all the topics, to select only topics that you haven’t done, or to select only topics where you need to improve.


OK

Confirms your selection(s).


Cancel

Closes the preferences box without making any changes to the settings.


Default

Resets the preferences to the default state.


Number input field

You can type numbers directly into here, or drag them in from the calculator display.

To enter a number using standard notation:

1. type the number

2. type x

3. type the index number

4. if the index number is negative, type -


Letter input field
Drag input field

You must drag letters from the screen into here.


Inverse Button
Sets the inverse function for sin, cos, tan. The functions automatically turn off the inverse function after a calculation is completed.

Keyboard equivalent = I


Exponential key
Allows entry of scientific-notation numbers. The exponent has an upper limit of 99. Exp can be used only with the decimal number system. This key is only available when there are eight or less digits in the display.

Keyboard equivalent = e


Open bracket
Starts a new level of parentheses. The maximum number of levels is 15.

Keyboard equivalent = (


Close brackets
Closes the current level of parentheses.

Keyboard equivalent = )


Cube root Key
Used to find the cube root of the displayed value.

Keyboard equivalent = r


X to theY key
Used to find x raised to the yth power, when calculating powers.

Keyboard equivalent = y


X to the one of the Y key
Used to find x raised to the power 1/y, when calculating roots.

Keyboard equivalent = z


X factorial key
Used to find the factorial of the displayed value

Keyboard equivalent = x


Exponential raised to the power x key
Used to display the natural antilogarithm of the displayed value.

Keyboard equivalent = h


Fraction key
Used to enter fractions in fraction form.

Keyboard equivalent = f


solving cubic