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Curved graphs

Curved graphs for Access to HE Geography: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • Access to HE
  • Geography
  • Spec S14
  • 6 min read
  • 8 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
3 min read

What is curved graphs?

Listen to this box

Transcript

A short spoken summary of curved graphs and where it is used.

A spoken walk-through of curved graphs before you read the notes.
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 curved graphs laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
6 rows

The curved graphs reference table

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
Term
Meaning
Example
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
Row 3 column 1
Row 3 column 2
≈160\approx 160
Row 4 column 1
Row 4 column 2
≈160\approx 160

Learning

4 boxes
4 steps

How to work with curved graphs

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
Worth knowing: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for curved graphs 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: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
3 rules

Key facts: Curved graphs

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 curved graphs 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 curved graphs behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

  • Rule 2

    How curved graphs behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

  • Rule 3

    How curved graphs behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    ≈160\approx 160
3 steps

How to work with curved graphs

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for curved graphs 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: ≈160\approx 160.
Answer: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left
2 rules

Key facts: Curved graphs

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing curved graphs laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.

  • Rule 1

    How curved graphs behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    ≈160\approx 160

  • Rule 2

    How curved graphs behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

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Examples

2 boxes
2 marks · worked

Worked example: curved graphs

This idea appears again in the higher-mark questions, so it is worth over-learning.
Worth knowing: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
1 marks · worked

Practice question 8: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.

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Common questions

How many marks is curved graphs usually worth?
Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.
Is this on the Access to HE Geography paper?
Yes — it sits in the Forces and motion strand.