GCSE Mathematics Foundation Tier Here is pretty much all the Foundation Tier content we could fit onto

Here is pretty much all the Foundation Tier content we could fit onto an A3 sheet of paper, including all the formulae
you are required to know for GCSE. An ➔ points to an illustrative example. The codes refer to the DfE subject content.
Number Algebra Ratio, proportion and rates of change Geometry & measures Probability Statistics Pin this to a wall, keep it on your desk, carry it in your bag, make notes on it (sorry, don’t take it into the examination)…

BIDMAS N3 Surds N8 Standard graphs A12 Sequences A24, A25 Division using ratio R5
…or BODMAS. Use the correct order Look for the biggest square number 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 Triangular numbers: Use a ratio for unequal sharing
of operations; take care when using a factor of the number: ➔ Divide £480 in the ratio 7 : 5
calculator. ➔ 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
√𝟖𝟎 = √𝟏𝟔 × 𝟓 = 𝟒√𝟓 𝑦=4 7 + 5 = 12, then £480 ÷ 12 = £40

𝑥=2
• Brackets 𝑥 1 3 6 10 15
4 3 7 × £40 = £280, 5 × £40 = £200
• Indices (or pOwers) Standard form N9 𝑥 Square numbers (𝑛2 = 𝑛 × 𝑛): (check: £280 + £200 = £480 ✓)
• Division and Multiplication 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
Standard form numbers are of the 12 22 32 42 52 Ratio and fractions R8
• Addition and Subtraction 2 3 𝑥
form 𝑎 × 10𝑛 where 1 ≤ 𝑎 < 10 1 1 4 9 16 25 Link between ratios and fractions
Types of number N4 and 𝑛 is an integer. 𝑦= 𝑥2 𝑦= 𝑥3 𝑦=
𝑥 ➔ Boys to girls in ratio 2 : 3
Cube numbers (𝑛3 = 𝑛 × 𝑛 × 𝑛):
Integer: a “whole” number Standard units N13 𝟐 𝟑
𝒚 = 𝐦𝒙 + 𝐜 A9 Right angled triangles G20, G22 are boys, are girls.
Factors; the divisors of an integer 13 23 33 43 53
1 tonne = 1000 kilograms 𝟓 𝟓
➔ Factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3 ,4, 6, 12 Equation of straight line 𝑦 = m𝑥 + c Pythagoras Theorem. The longest side of any right 1 8 27 64 125
1 kilogram = 1000 grams
Multiples; a “times table” for an m is the gradient; c is the 𝑦 intercept: Links all three sides. angled triangle is the Percentages R9
integer (will continue indefinitely) ➔ Find the equation of the line No angles. c hypotenuse; check that your 𝑛th term of an arithmetic (linear)
1 kilometre = 1000 metres a sequence is 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑑 𝑦
➔ Multiples of 12 are 12, 24, 36 … that joins (0 , 3) to (2 , 11) 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 𝑐 2 answer is consistent with this. 𝑦 percent of 𝑥 = ×𝑥
1 metre = 100 centimetres ➔ n𝐭𝐡 term of 5, 8, 11, 14, … is 100
Prime number: an integer which has Find its gradient…
= 1000 millimetres 𝟏𝟏 − 𝟑 𝟖 3𝒏+2 (always increases by 3 ➔ Increase £58 by 26%.
exactly two factors (1 and the number Special values of sin, cos, tan
1 centimetre = 10 millimetres = =𝟒 b first term is 𝟑 × 𝟏 + 𝟐 = 𝟓) 𝟐𝟔
itself). Note: 1 is not a prime number. 𝟐−𝟎 𝟐 Learn (or be able to find × £𝟓𝟖 = £𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝟖
…and its y intercept… Trigonometry. without a calculator)… Geometric sequence; multiply each 𝟏𝟎𝟎
HCF, LCM N4 1 day = 24 hours term by a constant ratio £58 + £15.08 = £73.08
Passes through (0 , 3), so c = 3 Links two sides and one angle.
1 hour = 60 minutes = 3600 seconds θ° sinθ° cosθ° tanθ° ➔ 3, 6, 12, 24, … (ratio is 2) 𝑦
Highest Common Factor (HCF) Equation is 𝒚 = 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟑 SOH│CAH│TOA 𝑦 as a percentage of 𝑥 = × 100%
1 minute = 60 seconds

opposite
➔ Factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3, 6 0 0 1 1 Fibonacci sequence; make the next 𝑥
Factors of 9 are 1, 3, 9 Rounding N15 term by adding the previous two … ➔ The population of a town
Parallel lines: gradients are equal;
HCF of 6 and 9 is 3 1 √3 1 ➔ 2, 4, 6, 10, 16, 26, 42, … increases from 3500 to 4620
➔ 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑 and 𝒚 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓 both 30
Lowest Common Multiple (LCM)
Truncate the number, then use a
θ 2 2 Find the percentage increase.
“decider digit” to round up or down. have gradient 2 so are parallel. √3
Probability P8, P9 𝟏𝟏𝟐𝟎
➔ Multiples of 6 are 6, 12, 18, 24, … 1 1
Decimal places: use the decimal point adjacent 45 1 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟑𝟐%
Multiples of 9 are 9, 18, 27, 36, … Expanding brackets A4 √2 √2 𝑛(equally likely favourable outcomes) 𝟑𝟓𝟎𝟎
➔ 162.3681 to 2dp; opp adj opp
√3 1 𝑝= increase
LCM of 6 and 9 is 18 𝑝(𝑞 + 𝑟) = 𝑝𝑞 + 𝑝𝑟 sin𝜃 = cos𝜃 = tan𝜃 = 60 √3
𝑛(equally likely possible outcomes)
Note: fraction =
162.36│81 = 162.37 to 2dp hyp hyp adj
2 2 𝑝=0 impossible original
Prime factors N4 ➔ 𝟓(𝒙 − 𝟐𝒚) = 𝟓𝒙 − 𝟏𝟎𝒚
Significant figures: use the first non-
(𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏 Use “2ndF” or “SHIFT” key to find a 0 < 𝑝 < 0.5 unlikely Learn the most frequently used ones:
zero digit. 90 1 0 𝑝 = 0.5 evens
Write a number as a product of its ➔ (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 + 𝟓) missing angle 1 1 1 1 1
➔ 162.3681 to 2sf; 0.5 < 𝑝 < 1 likely
prime factors; use indices for = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏𝟎𝒙 − 𝟏𝟓 2 4 10 5 100
16│2.3681 = 160 to 2sf Areas and volumes G16, G17, G18, G23 𝑝=1 certain
repeated factors: = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟏𝟓 50% 25% 10% 20% 1%
➔ 0.007 039 to 3sf;
➔ 𝟕𝟐𝟎 = 𝟓 × 𝟑𝟐 × 𝟐𝟒 Reverse of expanding is factorising - 1
Probability rules P8, P9
0.007 03│9 = 0.007 04 to 3sf Area of triangle = × base × height Volume of cuboid = length × width × height
Powers and roots N6, N7 putting an expression into brackets. 2 a Speed, distance, time R11
Error intervals N15 Multiply for independent events
Special indices: for any value a: Quadratics A18 ➔ P(6 on dice and H on coin) distance
Speed =

height
Find the range of numbers that will 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 time
𝑎0 = 1 Solve a quadratic by factorising. h

height
round to a given value: × = ➔ A car travels 90 miles in 1 hour,
𝑎−𝑛 =
1
➔ 𝒙 = 𝟓. 𝟖𝟑 (2 decimal places) ➔ Solve 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟖𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓 = 𝟎 𝟔 𝟐 𝟏𝟐
𝑎𝑛 Put into brackets (taking care with Add for mutually exclusive events 30 minutes. Find its average speed.
𝟓. 𝟖𝟐𝟓 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝟓. 𝟖𝟑𝟓 base b length 90 miles ÷ 1.5 hours = 60 mph
𝟏 𝟏 any negative numbers)… ➔ P(5 or 6 on dice)
➔ 𝟑−𝟒 = 𝟒= ➔ 𝒚 = 𝟒𝟔 (2 significant figures) 1 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐
𝟑 𝟖𝟏 (𝒙 − 𝟑)(𝒙 − 𝟓) = 𝟎 Area of trapezium = (𝑎 + 𝑏) × ℎ
𝟒𝟓. 𝟓 ≤ 𝒚 < 𝟒𝟔. 𝟓 2 + = Averages S4
Note use of ≤ and <, and that the last …then either 𝑥 − 3 = 0 or 𝑥 − 5 = 0 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔
Calculating with fractions N8 Circumference of circle = 𝜋 × 𝐷 Apply these rules to tree diagrams.
significant figure of each is 5 so that 𝒙 = 𝟑 or 𝒙 = 𝟓. Mode: most frequently occurring
Adding or subtracting fractions; use a Area of circle = 𝜋 × 𝑟 2 Median: put the data in numerical
Difference of two squares A4 r Parts of a circle G9
common denominator… Algebraic notation A1 order, then choose the middle one
𝑎2 𝑏2

height
𝟒 𝟏 𝟏𝟐 𝟓 𝟕 − = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) cross total of items of data
➔ − = − = 𝑎𝑏 = 𝑎 × 𝑏 θ Mean =
𝟓 𝟑 𝟏𝟓 𝟏𝟓 𝟏𝟓 ➔ 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝟓 = (𝒙 + 𝟓)(𝒙 − 𝟓) section
3𝑦 = 𝑦 + 𝑦 + 𝑦 sector number of items of data
Multiplying fractions; multiply 𝑎2 = 𝑎 × 𝑎 Simultaneous equations A19 𝜃
numerators and denominators… 𝑎3 = 𝑎 × 𝑎 × 𝑎 Correlation S6
Arc length = ×𝜋×𝐷
𝟒 𝟐 𝟖
𝑎2𝑏 = 𝑎 × 𝑎 × 𝑏 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑𝒚 = 𝟏𝟏 360°
➔ × = ➔ Solve { Volume of cylinder = πr2 × height Positive Negative
𝟕 𝟑 𝟐𝟏 𝑎 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟓𝒚 = 𝟕 𝜃
Area of sector = 2
× 𝜋 × 𝑟 Volume of prism = area of cross section × length correlation correlation
Dividing fractions; “flip” the second = 𝑎÷𝑏 Multiply to match a term in 𝑥 or 𝑦 360°
𝑏 segment
fraction, then multiply… 𝟏𝟎𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓𝒚 = 𝟓𝟓
𝟐 𝟓 𝟐 𝟔 𝟏𝟐 Equations and identities A3 { Transformations G7, G8
➔ ÷ = × = 𝟗𝒙 − 𝟏𝟓𝒚 = 𝟐𝟏
𝟕 𝟔 𝟕 𝟓 𝟑𝟓
An equation is true for some Add or subtract to cancel… Reflection Rotation Enlargement
Fractions, decimals N10 particular value of 𝑥 𝟏𝟗𝒙 = 𝟕𝟔, so 𝒙 = 𝟒 • Line of reflection • Centre of rotation • Centre of enlargement
➔ 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟕 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝒙 = 𝟑 Finally, substitute and solve… Translation • Angle of rotation • Scale factor (if SF < 1 the
Fraction is numerator ÷ denominator …but an identity is true for every 𝟐 × 𝟒 + 𝟑𝒚 = 𝟏𝟏, so 𝒚 = 𝟏 • Vector • Clockwise or anticlockwise shape will get smaller).
𝟓
➔ = 𝟓 ÷ 𝟖 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟐𝟓 value of 𝑥 Angle facts G3
𝟖 Rearrange a formula A5
➔ (𝒙 + 𝒂)𝟐 ≡ 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒂𝒙 + 𝒂𝟐
Use place values to change decimals (note the use of the symbol ≡) The subject of a formula is the term Equal angles in parallel lines: Angles on a straight Angles in a full Interior angles in a Use this for the interior Exterior angles
to fractions. Simplify where possible. on its own. Use rules that “balance” always use correct terminology… line total 180° turn total 360° triangle total 180° angles of any polygon… always total 360°
𝟒𝟓 𝟗 Laws of indices A4
➔ 𝟎. 𝟒𝟓 = = the formula to change its subject
𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟐𝟎
For any value a: ➔ Make 𝒙 the subject of
Learn the most frequently used ones: 𝑎 𝑥 × 𝑎 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑥+𝑦 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟑𝒚 = 𝒛
1 1 1 1 3 𝑎𝑥 Here, subtract 3𝑦 from both sides…
= 𝑎 𝑥−𝑦
2 4 10 5 4 𝑎𝑦 𝟐𝒙 = 𝒛 − 𝟑𝒚
0.5 0.25 0.1 0.2 0.75 (𝑎 𝑥 )𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑥𝑦 …then divide both sides by 2
𝟑 𝒛 − 𝟑𝒚
𝟐𝒑𝒒𝟒 𝟖𝒑𝟑 𝒒𝟏𝟐 𝟖𝒒𝟗 𝒙= Alternate angles Corresponding angles
➔( ) = = or 𝟖𝒒𝟗 𝒑−𝟔 𝟐 …or 180° × (𝑛 − 2)
𝒑𝟑 𝒒 𝒑 𝟗 𝒒𝟑 𝒑𝟔