The number out the front must be 1 or greater, but less than 10. A negative exponent (power) means a number smaller than 1, a positive exponent means a number greater than one. Numbers can be converted to or from scientific notation by moving the decimal point.

If you have a Gmail or Facebook account you can practice scientific notation here.

Significant figures start from the first non-zero digit, counting from left to right. Answers should be given to the same number of significant figures as the least precise value used in the calculation.

YouTube videos about scientific notation and significant figures: 1 2

Every mathematical operation has an 'inverse' which will undo it. Equations will remain equal as long as the same thing is done to both sides of the equation.

YouTube video about rearranging equations here.

Practice rearranging equations here.

The independent variable is intentionally changed by the experimenter. The dependent variable is measured to see how it changes as a result.

Graphs can be drawn from a table of data. Usually the left column is independent variable and right column is dependent variable.

A graph of "y vs x" means x is the independent variable (on the horizontal axis), and y is the dependent variable (along the vertical axis). Graphs and tables should have a title.

Every graph should have axes clearly labelled with the variable and units and evenly placed scale markers.

The line of best fit should show a smooth trend of points, not join the points together. A ruler must be used if the pattern is linear.

YouTube videos about drawing graphs: 1 2

Directly proportional variables are in constant ratio; one is the other multiplied by a constant. This means that if you double one variable, the other is doubled also. If one is zero, the other must be zero also (if the intercept is non-zero, it is just a linear relationship).

Some other kinds of proportionality:

- inverse proportionality (if you double one variable, the other will halve)

- squared proportionality (if you double one variable, the other will quadruple)

- inverse squared proportionality (if you double one variable, the other will quarter)

YouTube videos about proportionality: 1 2

Vectors are values that have a magnitude and a direction.

Addition or subtraction of vectors requires geometric representation (you can't just add or subtract the magnitudes).

Vectors can be converted to horizontal and vertical components that can be worked with separately.