Language of the Exam

When a question says

It means

integer

A whole number (positive or negative).

rational number

A number that can be written as a fraction

(where a and b are integers).

a
,
b

Show that

Because the answer is given in the question, it

is vital that you show all your working, so that
the examiner can see that you have reached the
required answer legitimately.

Verify that

Show it is true that usually it will be possible

to verify something using a simple calculation,
e.g. Verify that (2, 5) lies on the line y 3 x  1 .

Justify that

Show why something is true You will need to

give a reason.

Hence

Use what you found in the last part of the

question.

Write down

The answer should be easy to find, requiring

little or no working.

giving your answer in its simplest form.

Simplify as far as possible, e.g.

6 2
15 5
e.g. 80 16 5

45

giving your answer in the form

ax  by  c 0 , where a, b, and c are integers.

You must give the equation in the required form,

1
e.g. not 2 y x  8 , not x  y  4 0 , but
2
x  2 y  8 0 . (Here, a 1, b 2, c 8 )

Factorise completely

e.g. Factorising x 3  2 x 2  24 x gives

x( x 2  2 x  24) x( x  6)( x  4) .
The first step here is not a complete
factorisation.
Also, you do not have to continue to give values
of x (you are not asked to solve an equation).

Edexcel Limited 2008

find f c( x) .

Given f c( x)

Differentiate. If y

.... , find f ( x) .

Find the equation of the tangent (or find the

equation of the normal)

f ( x) , f c( x)

dy
dx

Integrate (and dont forget to include the

constant of integration +C).

Make sure you find the right one! Often

candidates give the equation of the tangent
instead of the normal (or vice-versa).

Edexcel Limited 2008