Started A-level maths? Make sure your calculator works for you

Transformations of functions, factorising cubic polynomials, algebraic long division and binomial probability calculations. These are just a few of the new topics students  are likely to come across soon if they’ve started studying A-level maths.

The jump in topic difficulty and complexity that often happens a few months into the course can certainly be a challenge. But there are many effective tools available to help, a powerful calculator being one of the most important.

Let’s look at some specific examples of how advanced calculator functionality can help A-level maths students.

Exploring quadratics, cubics and trig functions

A common activity for students in their first few months of A-level maths is analysing a quadratic equation by completing the square. Working algebraically – using a quadratic function like as an example – they will end up with a rearrangement that looks something like

With a graphic calculator like the Casio fx-CG50, students can input both of these functions to get instant visual feedback on the accuracy of their working. If the graph of their proposed solution is different to the graph of the original function, they know they’ve made a mistake.

The fx-CG50 also offers a number of built-in functions, one of which is Y=A(x – B)² + C. It’s possible to graph and then modify this function, meaning students can experiment with different values of A, B and C to stretch and move the curve, until they get a shape that matches the original function they’re solving.

Also included among the calculator’s built-in tools is a cubic function with various modifiable coefficients, which can come in useful as students get further along in their A-level maths studies.

The trigonometric functions available can also be a big help, particularly when it comes to answering common exam questions.

If a student is given certain data about sea levels and asked to work out when the tide will reach a certain point, for example, they can do that by modelling a sine curve and visualising what happens when they modify certain variables.

Graphic calculator methods like these give students visually engaging, interactive ways to explore topics they’ve never tackled before, or perhaps encountered but never fully understood.

Reasons to upgrade to the fx-CG50

Students currently using the fx-991CW – our most advanced scientific calculator – and thinking about an upgrade to the fx-CG50 will want to know what sets this handset apart.

The graphical comparisons discussed above aren’t possible on the fx-991CW. The scientific calculator does have a Table app that lets you compare values between an original function and, for example, a factorised version, but this approach involves more trial and error and doesn’t offer the conclusive visual evidence you get from a graph.

Another clear advantage of the fx-CG50 is SolveN. The fx-991CW comes equipped with Solver, which finds one value at a time as a decimal, but SolveN takes things a step further by finding multiple values, which can also be presented as surds and fractions.

Every A-level maths student will need to get to grips with binomial probability calculations, and this is another area where the fx-CG50 offers valuable support.

The calculator’s Distribution mode was designed specifically to make the process of calculating and graphing probability distributions as seamless as possible. It can also show right-hand probabilities and perform cumulative calculations between given values.

A-level maths teachers have told us that, of all the tools available on the fx-CG50, the Distribution app is one of the most popular among their students.

To learn more about our calculators and how to make the most of them, take a look at the resources available on the Casio Education website.

We have a dedicated ‘Getting started with the fx-CG50‘ collection that explores the basics of using the calculator, plotting graphs, solving equations and more.