Calculator questions

There will almost certainly be a calculator question on the calculator paper. It is usually 2
marks and then another mark is usually given for writing the answer as 3 significant figures –
remember this is not the same as the number of decimal places!

Example
Use your calculator to work out the value of:

8.75 + 7.83
2.03 + 1.45

Solution
The best way to approach this is the use brackets and let the
calculator do the work! Make sure you have a recent
VPAM calculator - the best way
Put brackets around the top expression (numerator) and then to tell is to type in the square
brackets around the bottom expression (denominator) root [√] then [4] and [=] if the
answer is 2 then you have a
So type in: VPAM calculator; if not, recycle it
and borrow a newer one.
(8.75 + 7.83 ) ÷ (2.03 + 1.45) =

The answer will be 3.318452217 or (3.32 to 3 significant figures)

Now try these

Write down the full answer (and then the answer to 3 significant figures).

8.75 + 1.83
1.
6.03 + 1.45

Full answer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 significant figures: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6.73 + 17.83
2.
2.23 + 0.45

Full answer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Answers

3 significant figures: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 1.350638359 (1.35)
2. 4.086775547 (4.09)
3. 0.030204562 (0.0302)
0.75 + 3.83
3.
12.03 × 7.45 Recall that only zeros that
are ‘sandwiched’ are
Full answer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . counted.
3 significant figures: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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