Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Terminology in Maths Exams

In the process of writing a recent Mathematics Examination, I realised that I had misused a term and quickly changed it. This reminded me that many of my students may not know what these words mean.

I have pulled together the most common terms that students should be familiar with:

Solve 3x + 2 = 5

Find the value of x.

Simplify

3x + 2x    Write in a simpler form (5x)

Evaluate

Find the value of

Equation

3x + 2 = 5

Expression

3x + 2

Find

Find, showing working (don't just state)

Prove

The answer is given, but act as if it is not given

Hence

Using what you have already done

Otherwise

or do it another way

State / Name

one line/word answer

Explain

Use numbers and/or words

Sketch

Draw neatly using a ruler, but does not have to be to scale

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