One of the topics that is new to the higher tier is “expanding two or more binomials”. When the subject criteria was published there was a question as to “how many binomials?” … where does it end?
In fact, it’s not that scary … what it actually means is triple brackets … just that! (no guarantees that they wouldn’t throw in 4 or even 5 brackets … I can’t see it happening by the way!!) … and by definition when it’s in context the only thing it could possibly relate to, at GCSE level is volume of cuboids. This topic caused a … umm … let’s call it a “discussion” between myself and Seager as he was adamant that it wasn’t new and as it turns out we were both “sort of” right as it isn’t in the current 1MA01 specification but was on the previous 1380 specification so for lots of you is something that you may have taught before or in fact push on some students at the top end in preparation for A-level or even just for fun!!
For us, it is a topic that we considered putting into the Super 60 (next summer’s project!) but that list of topics is still very much a work-in-progress as we’re working on the Big Fat 50 as we speak. Anyway I’ve finished a couple of extra things for this topic (for those of you that attended one of the Edexcel “getting ready to teach” events this was one of the topics that we presented so you’ll have a shed load of resources for this already!) … and these will just add to your collection.
The squares one is based on an idea from Grant Barker (@Access Maths) who was on placement with us this year **waves** and the boarding card is an idea that we’re introducing to check the starting point prior to each topic.
Triple Brackets – Boarding Card
PS: It’ll also give you a flavour of things to come with the Big Fat 50 (we’re meeting at the end of the month to rejig the site to take into account that for the next 12 months we’ll have both the Top 40 and the Big Fat 50 available and clearly signposted for those of you that use JustMathsOnline).
