General Tips

Question 1

If they ever ask you about a ratios of any sort

Answer 1

put it into FRACTIONS!!!

Question 2

If there is a question “ a^2 -b^2”

Answer 2

This is the same as saying (a-b)(a-b)

Question 3

If there is a question that asks you 1.001^6 -1.001^5,

Answer 3

Just do : (1+0.001)^6 -(1+0.001)^5
Hence:
1 + 0.006 - (1 + 0.005)
1 + 0.006 - 1 - 0.005.

Question 4

If they say “x= |2|”.

Answer 4

This means that there are lines on both x=-2 and x=2.

Question 5

Whenever they give you any random shape,

Answer 5

IMMEDIATELY WRITE DOWN ALL THE DIMENSIONS! ESPECIALLY THE RADIUS/ DIAMETER!!!

Question 6

When you see some values and a graph

Answer 6

Create an equation for the graph, often you will have to use integration etc to be able to solve it and the following questions

Question 7

If they’ve given you numbers, which feel irrelevant

Answer 7

NO!! THEY AREN’T IRRELEVANT! They wouldn’t give you numbers if you didn’t need them, so USE THEM! Put it into a fraction, or an equation!!!

List all the data they’ve given you so you can know what to do with it.

Question 8

When something is increased by 20%

Answer 8

use multiply it by 1.20.

Question 9

Pressure equation

Answer 9

P= DENSITY * G * DEPTH.

Question 10

Transformers equations:

Answer 10

Vp/ Vs = Np / Ns

Can use Current in place of V too if you want- they are proportional.

Question 11

What combination of conditions gives the lowest rate of thermal energy transfer?

Answer 11

The lowest temperature difference. The highest length to travel, and the smallest diameter

Question 12

What are the diagonals of a rhombus.

Answer 12

The lines that connect 2 of the furthest points together.

Question 13

Whenever you see triangles

Answer 13

Look if you can apply the Familiar triangles method.

Question 14

REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT KEEPS OCCURRING

Answer 14

Usually, they will get you to create 2 equations, and then eventually use them together to get the solutions.

Question 15

For momentum questions, for 2 objects hitting each other

Answer 15

Be careful when calculating the force- often they may only want you to find the force on only 1 object. So RTFQ!!

Question 16

When you have 1/(x + y)^4

Answer 16

try to rationalise the denominator first, always!! Then, just multiply the (x + y)^4, by (x - y)^4. You can multiply just the brackets, and then by the indices.

Question 17

Whenever you have an object at an angle, and you are told to calculate the normal force:

Answer 17

multiply the Weight of the object by the perpendicular centre= F * d (distance where there needs to be a normal)

If there is a rope holding the particle or something- consider the vertical force it applies as well.

Question 18

Whenever you see a question about a “find the real solution” and there are indices

Answer 18

usually, you have replace something to be equal to y, and it’ll turn into a normal quadratic equation.

Question 19

If they give you angles to the boundary, rather than the normal

Answer 19

you can use Snell’s law still, but just use “cos” rather than “sin”

Question 20

Whenever an object is slowing down when moving upwards :

Answer 20

Then g is still bigger than a.

Question 21

Finding the coefficient for x ^5 (a + b) ^ n

Answer 21

n! / 5! (n-5)!

Question 22

How would you find the coefficient for x ^3 for (a + b)^7

Answer 22

7! / (3! x 4!)

This means:
7 x 6 x 5 x 4…) / ((3 x 2 x 1) (4 x 3 x 2 x 1)
Here, you can cancel many things.

Question 23

you can often also use pV = nRT if you want to.

Answer 23

If they want you to use ideal gas equations, they will say :
(… assume that the temperature will remain constant as an ideal gas…) THIS IS THE CLUE OT USE PV= NRT!!!