Structure and calculation common mistakes

Common mistakes

• Ordering numbers and inequality notation common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Order positive and negative integers, decimals and fractions and use =, !=, <, >, <= and >= correctly..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Ordering numbers and inequality notation.

• Operations and place value common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Apply the four operations to integers, decimals, simple fractions and mixed numbers, including positive and negative values..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Operations and place value.

• Operations and place value common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Use place value with very large numbers, very small numbers and decimal calculations, including financial contexts..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Operations and place value.

• Inverse operations and priority of operations common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Use relationships between operations, including inverse operations, to simplify calculations and expressions..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Inverse operations and priority of operations.

• Inverse operations and priority of operations common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Apply conventional priority of operations using brackets, powers, roots and reciprocals..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Inverse operations and priority of operations.

• Factors, multiples and prime factorisation common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Use vocabulary and methods for primes, factors, multiples, common factors, common multiples, HCF, LCM and prime factorisation..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Factors, multiples and prime factorisation.

• Factors, multiples and prime factorisation common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Write products of prime factors using index notation and apply the uniqueness of prime factorisation..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Factors, multiples and prime factorisation.

• Systematic listing and counting common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Apply systematic listing strategies using lists, tables and diagrams..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Systematic listing and counting.

• Systematic listing and counting common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Higher only] Use the product rule for counting where the specification requires it..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Systematic listing and counting.

• Powers and roots common mistake 1

  Writing a final answer without showing the method that justifies it. This can weaken answers for: [Foundation and Higher] Use positive integer powers and associated roots, including square, cube and higher roots..

  Fix itShow the method first, then give the final answer in the required form. Apply this directly to Powers and roots.