PAss Functional Skills

Fractions and decimals

Fractions and decimals for A Level Music Edexcel Higher: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • A Level
  • Edexcel
  • Music
  • Higher
  • Spec N4
  • 14 min read
  • 7 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
4 min read

What is fractions and decimals?

Listen to this box

Transcript

A short spoken summary of fractions and decimals and where it is used.

A spoken walk-through of fractions and decimals before you read the notes.
Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
2 rows

The fractions and decimals reference table

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
Term
Meaning
Example
Common slip
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
Row 1 column 4
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
Row 2 column 4

Learning

3 boxes
3 steps

How to work with fractions and decimals

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for fractions and decimals in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
  4. Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
Answer: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left
2 rules

Key facts: Fractions and decimals

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing fractions and decimals laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.

  • Rule 1

    How fractions and decimals behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

  • Rule 2

    How fractions and decimals behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    ≈160\approx 160

  • Rule 3

    How fractions and decimals behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left
5 steps

How to work with fractions and decimals

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing fractions and decimals laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for fractions and decimals in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
  4. Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
Answer: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

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Examples

2 boxes
2 marks · worked

Worked example: fractions and decimals

The examiner marks the working, so a correct answer with no method still drops marks.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing fractions and decimals laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
3 marks · worked

Practice question 7: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.

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Common questions

How many marks is fractions and decimals usually worth?
Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.
Is this on the A Level Music Edexcel Higher paper?
Yes — it sits in the Geometry and measures strand.