10 Calculator Tricks YOU NEED Before your Maths Exam | Save your Grades (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)

Brainstorm - Maths and Science
23 May 202308:32

TLDRThis video offers 10 essential calculator tips for GCSE maths exams, focusing on common calculator models. Tips include finding prime factors, graph plotting, standard form conversions, fraction simplification, mixed number conversion, time conversion, digit separators, ratio conversion, expression editing, and number storage. These tricks streamline complex calculations, making exams more manageable.

Takeaways

  • 🔢 Use your calculator to find the product of prime factors of any number.
  • 📊 Use the table function to graph equations like f(x) = 2x - 3.
  • 🔄 Convert between standard form and normal numbers easily.
  • ✅ Simplify fractions directly on your calculator.
  • 🔀 Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and vice versa.
  • ⏱ Convert decimal time into hours, minutes, and seconds.
  • 📖 Use digit separators for easier reading of large numbers.
  • 🔄 Convert ratios in the form of 1 to n.
  • 📝 Edit complex expressions without rewriting the whole line.
  • 💾 Store numbers in your calculator's memory for later use.

Q & A

  • What is the first calculator trick mentioned for finding the product of prime factors?

    -The first trick is to type the number into the calculator, hit equals, and then use the 'fact' button, which is usually accessed by pressing shift and a specific button, to find the prime factors.

  • How can a calculator help with graph plotting for functions?

    -You can use the table function by pressing the menu button, selecting the appropriate option, inputting the equation, and then setting the start, end, and step values to plot the coordinates for the graph.

  • What is the standard form conversion feature of a calculator and how does it work?

    -The calculator can convert normal numbers into standard form by pressing the 'times 10x' button followed by the power of 10. However, it only works with positive powers and multiples of three.

  • How does the calculator simplify fractions?

    -By inputting the fraction and pressing equals, the calculator automatically simplifies it. For example, entering 90/160 results in the simplified fraction 9/16.

  • What is the process for converting mixed numbers to improper fractions on a calculator?

    -After inputting the mixed number and pressing equals, you can use the shift and 'S to D' button to convert it to an improper fraction.

  • How can a calculator help with converting decimal time into hours and minutes?

    -By inputting the decimal time and pressing equals, the calculator will convert it into hours and minutes, and possibly seconds if necessary.

  • What is the digit separator feature on a calculator and how do you enable it?

    -The digit separator feature formats long numbers with spaces for easier reading. It can be enabled by going to the setup menu and selecting the option to turn it on.

  • How does the calculator assist with converting ratios?

    -The calculator can convert ratios in the form of 'a to b' to '1 to n' by using the ratio function, where you input 'a' and 'b' and it calculates the equivalent ratio.

  • What is a useful trick for editing long expressions on a calculator without deleting the entire line?

    -If you need to insert a fraction into a long expression, press the right bracket button followed by the fraction to insert it correctly without deleting the entire line.

  • How do you store numbers in a calculator for later use?

    -You can store numbers by pressing the 'sto' or 'store' button, then selecting a letter to save the number under. To recall the number, press the corresponding alpha button followed by the stored letter.

  • Why is it important to clear the calculator's memory before an exam?

    -Clearing the calculator's memory before an exam prevents potential cheating by ensuring that no stored values from previous calculations are available.

Outlines

00:00

📐 Calculator Tips for GCSE Maths

This paragraph provides 10 essential calculator tips for students preparing for their GCSE Maths exam. It covers how to find the product of prime factors of a number, such as 550, using the 'fact' function. It also explains how to use the calculator's table function to graph equations like 2x - 3 by setting start, end, and step values. The standard form conversion is discussed, detailing how to convert between normal numbers and scientific notation, with a note on limitations regarding negative powers. Simplifying fractions and converting mixed numbers to improper fractions is also covered, along with a tip for handling decimal time values by converting them into hours, minutes, and seconds. Lastly, it mentions a feature for easier reading of long numbers by using a digit separator.

05:00

🔢 Advanced Calculator Functions

The second paragraph delves into more advanced calculator functions. It teaches how to convert ratios from one form to another, exemplified by converting 90:40 into a 1:n ratio, which results in 4:9. The paragraph also addresses the common issue of editing long expressions, particularly when inserting fractions into quadratic formulas, by using bracket buttons to avoid rewriting entire expressions. The importance of storing numbers in the calculator's memory for later use is highlighted, with a demonstration of how to save and recall values using the 'sto' and 'rec' buttons. The video concludes with a reminder to clear the calculator's memory before an exam to ensure fairness.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Prime Factors

Prime factors are the prime numbers that multiply together to give the original number. In the context of the video, finding the product of prime factors is a useful calculator trick for math exams. For example, the prime factors of 550 are 2, 5, 5, and 11, as shown when the calculator is used to find the product of prime factors of 550.

💡Table Function

The table function on a calculator is used to generate a table of values for a given equation. This is particularly helpful for plotting graphs. The video demonstrates how to input an equation like '2x - 3' into the calculator and then generate a table of values from -2 to 2 with a step of 1 to plot the graph of the function.

💡Standard Form

Standard form is a way of expressing numbers, particularly large or small ones, in a compact form using powers of ten. The video explains how to convert a normal number into standard form using the 'x10^' button on the calculator, and vice versa, using the 'ENG' button, with examples like converting 3.26 into 3.26x10^9 and 6.5 million into 6.5x10^6.

💡Simplifying Fractions

Simplifying fractions involves reducing fractions to their lowest terms. The video shows how a calculator can be used to simplify fractions, such as converting 90/160 into 9/16, which is the simplest form of the fraction.

💡Improper Fractions

Improper fractions are fractions where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. The video demonstrates how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions using the calculator, as shown when converting 5 4/5 to 29/5.

💡Time Conversion

Time conversion on a calculator can convert decimal hours into hours, minutes, and seconds, which is useful for problems involving speed, distance, and time. The video gives an example of converting 6.55 hours into 6 hours and 33 minutes.

💡Digit Separator

A digit separator is a feature on some calculators that adds spaces or commas to separate groups of digits, making large numbers easier to read. The video explains how to enable this feature on the calculator and shows an example of how 4.5 million is displayed with separators.

💡Ratio Conversion

Ratio conversion on a calculator can convert ratios in the form 'a to b' into the form '1 to n'. The video demonstrates this by converting the ratio 90 to 40 into 1 to 4.5, which helps in understanding and simplifying ratio problems.

💡Storing Numbers

Storing numbers in a calculator allows you to save the result of a calculation for later use. The video shows how to store a number under a variable (e.g., 'A') and then recall it later in the calculation, which is useful for saving time and avoiding errors.

💡Memory Clear

Memory clear is a function on calculators that clears all stored data and resets the memory. This is important to do before an exam to ensure fairness and avoid potential cheating, as explained in the video.

Highlights

Use your calculator to find the product of prime factors of any number.

Calculators can simplify complex equations like finding the product of prime factors of 550.

Utilize the menu function to solve equations and graph them.

Convert between standard form and normal numbers using the calculator.

Calculators can simplify fractions and convert mixed numbers to improper fractions.

Quickly convert decimal time into hours and minutes with a single button press.

Use digit separators to make long numbers easier to read.

Convert ratios in the form of 1 to n using the calculator.

Avoid rewriting long expressions by inserting fractions correctly.

Store numbers in your calculator for easy recall during exams.

Clear calculator memory before exams to ensure fairness.

These calculator tricks are essential for GCSE maths exams.

The video provides practical applications of calculator functions for exams.

Learn how to use the calculator's menu and table functions for complex problems.

Understand how to use the Eng button for standard form conversions.

Use the calculator to simplify and solve quadratic equations.

The video demonstrates how to use the calculator for various mathematical conversions.

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