Edexcel GCSE Maths Specification - Algebra

Algebra - Edexcel GCSE Specification

• This is everything you need to know for Edexcel GCSE Maths for the 'algebra' portion of the qualification

Notation, Vocabulary, and Manipulation

• You must be able to:
• * Use and interpret algebraic manipulation, including ab in place of a × b, 3y in place of y + y + y and 3 × y, a^2 in place of a × a, and brackets
• * Substitute numerical values into formulae and expressions, including
• scientific formulae
• * Use the concepts and vocabulary of expressions, equations,
• formulae, identities, inequalities, terms and factors
• * Rearrange and simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions (including those involving
• surds) by:
• ● collecting like terms
• ● multiplying a single term over a bracket
• ● taking out common factors
• ● factorising quadratic expressions of the form x
• 2 + bx + c, including the
• difference of two squares
• ● simplifying expressions involving sums, products and powers, including
• the laws of indices
• * Where appropriate, be able to interpret simple expressions as functions with inputs and outputs

Graphs

• You must be able to:
• * Work with coordinates in all four quadrants
• A9
• * Plot straight-line graphs in the form y = mx + c, and use this equation to identify parallel lines, find the equation of the line through two fiven points, or through one point with a given gradient
• * Identify and interpret gradients and intercepts of linear functions graphically
• and algebraically
• * Identify and interpret roots, intercepts, turning points of quadratic functions
• graphically; deduce roots algebraically
• * Recognise, sketch and interpret graphs of linear functions, quadratic
• functions, simple cubic functions, the reciprocal function y = 1/x where x ≠ 0
• * Plot and interpret graphs (including reciprocal graphs) and graphs of
• non-standard functions in real contexts to find approximate solutions to
• problems such as simple kinematic problems involving distance, speed and
• acceleration

Solving Equations and Inequalities

• You must be able to:
• * Solve linear equations with unknown algebraically
• * Solve quadratic equations algebraically by factorising
• * Solve two simultaneous equations in two variables
• * Be able to use a graph to find approximate solutions when appropriate
• * Translate simple situations or procedures into algebraic expressions or
• formulae, derive an equation, solve the
• equation, and interpret the solution
• * Solve linear inequalities with variable; represent the solution set on a
• number line

Sequences

• You must be able to:
• * Generate terms of a sequence from either a term-to-term or a position-to-term
• rule
• * Recognise and use sequences of triangular, square and cube numbers,
• simple arithmetic progressions, Fibonacci type sequences, quadratic
• sequences, and simple geometric progressions (r^n where n is an integer,
• and r is a rational number > 0)
• * Deduce expressions to calculate the nth term of linear sequences