I&#x27;m going to fail my Maths GCSE..

OP

Original post by S.R

If you really don't get maths then what I would suggest is just blindly memorising the steps required to solve a certain problem. This will get you through most maths exams. It won't work with science though.

what do you mean, could you give any examples?

Reply 22

Diety

2

Original post by Rikathetika

Wow! :3 That sounds very good, I could try and ask my maths teacher...

That would be good, or it could be beneficial, if you find your teacher's style confusing, to find a different maths teacher, which is what I did; either way I think would help :smile:

Reply 23

OP

Original post by MrJiggly

Omg, best Maths teacher ever! And really gratz on your achievement :yy:

On OP's topic, perhaps it's the foundation you don't get. Try not to memorise the method of how to do it but instead understand it. It will be so much more clear. It's difficult at first but take it slow. Keep practising and I guarantee ur hard work will pay off xD Do you use MyMaths? MyMaths is great. Do the revision stuff not the H/W.

I've actually never heard of Mymaths, I go and give it a shot! thank you!

Reply 24

Blazinq

14

Don't give up, honestly, I failed Maths and regret it big time (even though I may gain an equivalent qualifcation to it, but it's more work to do in college)

Reply 25

Sparkle24

12

Original post by Rikathetika

I have a maths exam on Thursday,I'm stupid and I'm doing foundation. I can't possibly do this exam, it's too difficult I have been doing past papers all week and revision as well. I get an average of 60% in my papers, I know I'm not going to pass this exam but I'm so terrified to fail. No matter how hard I try to revise or learn something it takes me ages, I've been revising all week and I don't want to give up, but eventually it's brought me to a point where I want to..

I know Maths is an essential and you must have it, but I'm not academic, I'm not smart enough for this subject..It's not easy, algebra is not bloomin' easy. No matter what I do, I end up getting frustrated and cry about it. I take breaks but when I get back to revision I still get frustrated.

So I ended up considering for Essential skills in tech/college for next year but I feel like a slacker, thinking that everything is going to be alright and easy for me in tech in the future, whilst I sit here blowing my chance to get this GCSE away. But there's a part of me saying "This is your chance" And another part saying "You can't , just wait til college it will be easier"

I don't know what to think anymore, I'm scared and terrified to do this exam..I just can't learn it,I feel like giving up.

Don't give up.Your not Stupid.It does not matter that you are taking the foundation paper.You will be fine!Give it your all.You will do well :smile:

Reply 26

OP

Original post by Blazinq

Don't give up, honestly, I failed Maths and regret it big time (even though I may gain an equivalent qualifcation to it, but it's more work to do in college)

Did you do the essential skills one? Is it harder? I heard it was easier...

Reply 27

MrJiggly

2

Original post by Rikathetika

what do you mean, could you give any examples?

What she means is to memorise the method instead of understanding how to do it. Simple example: x+2=3
x=1 because you move 2 to the other side and change the sign. This works but you need to understand that it is because you need to add 1 to 2 to make 3.
Just memorising the method should get you through some simpler questions but really it's a risk cuz you might forget it in the exam and if the wording of the question is different, you'll go completely blank. I know this because I used to do this but I'm glad I've grown out of this habit. It is so much easier if you actually understand the method by logic. You'll be prepared for any question they throw at you. Of course some stuff at that level, you just have to memorise :tongue:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 28

OP

Original post by Beat

I find that part annoying. I never understood it when I first started my Maths GCSE. Is it when it's something like -9 + -3 or -8 - 6?

Yeah and sometimes there's square numbers and wen I look in the aswers tey disappear..?

Reply 29

GoldGhost

14

Honestly, being more positive is a good way to be. Eliminate the stress and put the GCSE in perspective. You understand the majority of information and worrying wont make things better. I know it is not useful advice, but I hope it helps in some way.

Reply 30

Original post by Rikathetika

I'd really appreciate that thank you. Yes something like that I know how to put them into groups but it's the plus and minuses I'm stuck at.

So let me establish some fundamentals

Say we have -4(-x+9) = 15
-4x-x=4x -4x9=-36

So judging by this we can say A minus multiplied by a minus = a positive

We can also say if -4(x+9) -4 multiplied by x = -4x because a negative multiplied by a positive is always a negative.

Lastly 4x4=16 we can say that a positive number multiplied by a positive number results in a positive.

Things about fractions also

1/2=represents 1 divided by 2 which is 0.5 as a decimal
We can also find an equivalent fraction by doubling the fractions numbers on the top and bottom so 1/2=2/4 and doubling once more 2/4=3/6

When adding a fraction say 4/1+10/9 we need the denominators to be the same before we can add them so when you multiply the bottom by 9 then 4 will also be multiplied by 9
4x9=36 so the new equation is 36/9+10/9=46/9

With fractions we can also multiply them to make them whole numbers so say 3/2 we can multiply it by the denominator to make it 3 on its own(DO NOT FORGET TO MULTIPLY THE WHOLE EQUATION BY 2)

When taking away fractions apply the same rule so lets go for 1/1(which is just 1) -2/5 we multiply 1/1 to become 5/5-2/5 to make 3/5

Similarly if you are struggling with dividing you have a fraction say 2/10 / 6/9
Just flip the second fraction around and multiply so 2/10 x 9/6 = 18/60 divided by 6 = 3/10 in its simplest form.

Square roots may also appear on the paper be aware about the common types to come up
remember a square root has to be of a number that could multiply by itself a common example square root 4 we know that 2x2 = 4 so the square root is 2
again with square root of 9 we know that 3x3=9 so the square root is 3
lastly a more complicated one root 81 well working it out 9x9=81 so square rooting 81 will give you 9.

Any other questions feel free to quote me, also remember to apply BIDMAS/PEDMAS or whatever when you are working out a solution.

Reply 31

Blazinq

14

Original post by Rikathetika

Did you do the essential skills one? Is it harder? I heard it was easier...

Key skills (I've not done it yet, I think it's later on in the year or next year) and I did a key skills maths in School, still found the Edexcel GCSE easier though, despite failing it by 10 UMS marks.

Reply 32

S.R

3

Original post by Rikathetika

what do you mean, could you give any examples?

For example:

\int x^2\ dx = ?

Looks fearsome doesn't it?

Here is the theory behind solving this problem:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riemann_integral

But you don't need to know that! All you need to know is "add one to the power, divide by the new power"

Try it with me

the power is 2 so adding one to that gives 3 and you then divide the whole thing by 3 so the answer to the question is

x^3 /3

And you have just solved an A level maths problem. No need to understand what you are doing just blindly add one to the power and then divide by the new power. Works most times. Tbh this is one of the main failings of A level maths in that it doesn't actually give the theory behind the maths and one can pass by just following the rules sort of like how you can pass chemistry practicals by just mixing whatever the book tells you to mix without having a clue why you are mixing it.

Reply 33

Original post by Rikathetika

what do you mean, could you give any examples?

DO not listen to SR he is teaching you alevel maths, you will not need to know this please don't take his words in for foundation they will just frustrate you

Reply 34

Original post by S.R

For example:

\int x^2\ dx = ?

Looks fearsome doesn't it?

Here is the theory behind solving this problem:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riemann_integral

But you don't need to know that! All you need to know is "add one to the power, divide by the new power"

Try it with me

the power is 2 so adding one to that gives 3 and you then divide the whole thing by 3 so the answer to the question is

x^3 /3

And you have just solved an A level maths problem. No need to understand what you are doing just blindly add one to the power and then divide by the new power. Works most times. Tbh this is one of the main failings of A level maths in that it doesn't actually give the theory behind the maths and one can pass by just following the rules sort of like how you can pass chemistry practicals by just mixing whatever the book tells you to mix without having a clue why you are mixing it.

Shes doing GCSE, not alevel a bit irrelevant don't you think? integration isn't until C1 or Add maths

Reply 35

OP

Original post by Robbie242

So let me establish some fundamentals

Say we have -4(-x+9) = 15
-4x-x=4x -4x9=-36

So judging by this we can say A minus multiplied by a minus = a positive

We can also say if -4(x+9) -4 multiplied by x = -4x because a negative multiplied by a positive is always a negative.

Lastly 4x4=16 we can say that a positive number multiplied by a positive number results in a positive.

Things about fractions also

1/2=represents 1 divided by 2 which is 0.5 as a decimal
We can also find an equivalent fraction by doubling the fractions numbers on the top and bottom so 1/2=2/4 and doubling once more 2/4=3/6

When adding a fraction say 4/1+10/9 we need the denominators to be the same before we can add them so when you multiply the bottom by 9 then 4 will also be multiplied by 9
4x9=36 so the new equation is 36/9+10/9=46/9

With fractions we can also multiply them to make them whole numbers so say 3/2 we can multiply it by the denominator to make it 3 on its own(DO NOT FORGET TO MULTIPLY THE WHOLE EQUATION BY 2)

When taking away fractions apply the same rule so lets go for 1/1(which is just 1) -2/5 we multiply 1/1 to become 5/5-2/5 to make 3/5

Similarly if you are struggling with dividing you have a fraction say 2/10 / 6/9
Just flip the second fraction around and multiply so 2/10 x 9/6 = 18/60 divided by 6 = 3/10 in its simplest form.

Square roots may also appear on the paper be aware about the common types to come up
remember a square root has to be of a number that could multiply by itself a common example square root 4 we know that 2x2 = 4 so the square root is 2
again with square root of 9 we know that 3x3=9 so the square root is 3
lastly a more complicated one root 81 well working it out 9x9=81 so square rooting 81 will give you 9.

Any other questions feel free to quote me, also remember to apply BIDMAS/PEDMAS or whatever when you are working out a solution.

So these are basically the basics of fractions..Thank you I never knew about that flipping the fraction around.I'll try and remember these, btw what is a BIDMAS/PEDMAS?
Is that like BODMAS? Brackets, ___,Division,multiply and addition and subtract?

Reply 36

Kvothe the Arcane

20

Tbh I've found that people who've been put in for foundation often get a comparable %ge in Higher exams. Remember if you get 60% doing higher, you'll get a C.
Why don't you try a higher paper?

Reply 37