Interactive Workout - Further

You can use this workout to practise your further mathematical skills; the sort of skills which will be critical in a mathematics, physics or engineering degree and, of course, further mathematics courses. This will be very useful both whilst at school and when you move on to higher study, where a high degree of algebraic fluency is really useful.
 
Here are some hints and tips to improve your skills:

1. Don't be tempted to look at the answer if you think that you can do the question unless you have actually done the question, on paper with a pen.
2. Try not to use your calculator for the simple arithmetical parts of a question - this is a bad habit to get into.
3. If you are stuck, don't give up immediately. Think about the problem. Perhaps look at one or two answers and ask: how does this answer work?
4. Accuracy is important, but speed is also important. This workbook is good for speed training.
5. If your answer differs from the answer given then think: is my answer wrong, or is it merely represented in a different form?
6. Use your skills in some interesting rich mathematical problems from NRICH. You might want to look at the core mathematics curriculum document for suggestions or just browse the stage 5 content on the site.
7. Keep a record of your best times. See how quickly you can complete one of each question type from each section.
8. Compare your solution methods with someone else. Are they the same? Is one better?

You can also practice the activities in the Interactive Workout - Core, which contains preparatory exercises for this workout.