4.1.9

Maths Skills for Science

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Maths Skills for Science - Mean

When analysing your data, you will need various maths skills. Maths calculations will help you draw conclusions from your data. You can calculate the mean.

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Mean results

  • One of the most common mathematical skills needed in science is how to calculate a mean.
  • To calculate a mean:
    • Add all the results up.
    • After adding all the results up, divide by the total number of results.
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Mean example

  • An example of calculating the mean is:
    • The results are 10 g / 12g and 11g.
    • The mean of these results would be calculated by adding 10g, 12g, and 11g.
  • The total of adding the results is divided by three (the number of results).
    • The mean of these results is 11g.
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Outliers

  • Clear outliers must be ignored when calculating the mean.
    • You can also repeat the result to change the outlier.
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Outlier example

  • An example of ignoring outliers is:
    • The results are 10g, 12g, and 25 g.
    • 25g is an outlier.
    • The mean of these results can be calculated by adding 10g and 12g.
  • The total of adding these results is divided by two (the number of results).
    • The mean of these results is 11g.

Maths Skills for Science - Percentage & Equations

When analysing your data, you will need various maths skills. Maths calculations will help you draw conclusions from your data. You can calculate percentages. You can also use equations.

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Calculating a percentage

  • To calculate the percentage, you must:
    • Divide the actual amount by the possible total.
    • After dividing, multiply the result by 100.
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Percentage example

  • If you scored 50 out of a 100 in a test, you can calculate the percentage of questions you have got right.
    • In this example, divide 50 by 100.
  • Multiply the total of the division by 100.
    • The percentage in this example is 50%.
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Rerranging an equation

  • The basics of rearranging an equation lie in algebra.
    • Try not to use equation triangles as they make advanced equations more complex.
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Example equation

  • An example of rearranging an equation is:
    • If A = B x C, how can you calculate B?
  • You can calculate B by putting numbers in place of the letters.
    • A (10) = B (5) x C (2).
  • In this case, 5 = 10 /2.
    • By using numbers, you determine that B = A /C.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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