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Applying number

Revise Applying number for Mathematics A 4MA1 (O Level) — revision notes, 156 practice questions and instant AI marking.

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  Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A (4MA1)

Applying Number

The big idea: Real-life number questions are ordinary arithmetic hidden in words. The marks are lost on units: convert everything to the same unit before you calculate, and give the answer with its unit.

Summary — What This Chapter Covers
  • Use number in everyday life: bills, tariffs, offers and best value.
  • Convert between metric units of length, mass, area, volume and capacity.
  • Area and volume conversions use the square and the cube of the length factor.
  • Calculate with time, including the 24-hour clock and converting hours and minutes to decimal hours.
  • Calculate with money and convert between currencies using an exchange rate.
1. Number in Everyday Life
Foundation & Higher

Bills, tariffs and offers

Read the information carefully, set out each step with its meaning, and finish with a sentence or unit. Many questions have a fixed charge plus a rate.

Worked Example

A phone plan costs $12 per month, which includes 200 minutes of calls. Each extra minute costs $0.08. In March, Karim used 340 minutes. Work out his bill.

Practice Question 1

A shop offers “3 for the price of 2” on bottles costing $1.80 each. Nadia buys 7 bottles. How much does she pay?

2. Standard Metric Units
Foundation & Higher

Mass, length, area, volume and capacity

QuantityConversions (memorise)
Length10 mm = 1 cm,  100 cm = 1 m,  1000 m = 1 km
Mass1000 g = 1 kg,  1000 kg = 1 tonne
Capacity1000 ml = 1 litre,  1 cm3 = 1 ml,  1000 cm3 = 1 litre
Area1 cm2 = 100 mm2,  1 m2 = 10 000 cm2
Volume1 cm3 = 1000 mm3,  1 m3 = 1 000 000 cm3

Because 1 m = 100 cm, 1 m2 = 100 × 100 cm2 and 1 m3 = 100 × 100 × 100 cm3.

Worked Example

A fish tank is a cuboid 1.2 m long, 50 cm wide and 40 cm high. Work out how many litres of water it holds when full.

Practice Question 2

Convert (a) 3.5 m2 to cm2   (b) 2.4 kg to g   (c) 750 ml to litres.

3. Calculations with Time
Foundation & Higher

60 minutes, not 100

Time is not decimal: 1 hour = 60 minutes. Count on in steps through whole hours, and through midnight on the 24-hour clock. To convert minutes to decimal hours, divide by 60.

Converting 1 h 45 min = 1 + 45/60 = 1.75 h    2.4 h = 2 h + 0.4 × 60 min = 2 h 24 min
Worked Example

A train leaves at 21:47 and arrives at 01:15 the next day. How long is the journey?

Practice Question 3

A car travels 210 km in 2 hours 20 minutes. Work out its average speed in km/h.

4. Money and Converting Between Currencies
Foundation & Higher

Multiply one way, divide the other

Memorise
Units first
Area and volume

2 2 3 3 3

Time
Currency
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More Mathematics A topics

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