Cambridge questions are written in precise mathematical English. If you know exactly what product, difference, justify and estimate ask you to do, you will not lose marks answering the wrong question.
| Term | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| decimal number | A number with a decimal point, such as 3.47. | 8.9 is a decimal. |
| whole-number part | The part of a decimal before the point. | In 14.639 the whole-number part is 14. |
| decimal part | The part of a number after the point. | In 14.639 the decimal part is 0.639. |
| tenths | The first decimal place. | In 0.4 there are 4 tenths. |
| hundredths | The second decimal place. | In 0.07 there are 7 hundredths. |
| thousandths | The third decimal place. | In 0.002 there are 2 thousandths. |
| compare | To decide which of two numbers is larger. | 6.45 < 8.9. |
| order | To arrange numbers by size. | 2.6, 2.816, 2.82 are in order of size. |
| mental method | Working an answer out in your head. | 2.3 + 7.8 = 9 + 1.1 = 10.1 is a mental method. |
| written method | Setting a calculation out on paper, usually in columns. | Lining up the decimal points is a written method. |
| partitioning | Splitting a number into parts that are easier to work with. | 1.5 × 48 = 48 + 24. |
| equivalent fraction | A fraction with the same value written another way. | 0.06 = 6/100. |
| product | The result of a multiplication. | The product of 0.3 and 7 is 2.1. |
| degree of accuracy | How precise an answer must be. | “To 2 decimal places” is a degree of accuracy. |
| estimate | A rough answer used to check the exact one. | 476 × 3.7 ≈ 500 × 4 = 2000. |
| place value | The value a digit has because of its position. | In 3.47 the 4 stands for 4 tenths. |