Robinson Tuition
Grade 3 · Foundation · free GCSE maths worksheet

Using a calculator

Edexcel, AQA, OCR and Edexcel IGCSE

Brackets, fractions, powers, roots, standard form and reading the display.

10 questions · 22 marks · type each answer for an instant mark, or print the sheet

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How to do it

  1. Put brackets round the whole top and the whole bottom of a fraction, or use the fraction key
  2. Use the x2, x3, √ and ∛ keys instead of typing the sum out
  3. Write down the full display before you round it
  4. Round only at the end, to the accuracy the question asks for
  5. Read the display in context: 7.2 pounds is £7.20 and 2.4 hours is 2 hours 24 minutes

Watch out: Typing a fraction without brackets, so only the last number on the top is divided by the first number on the bottom.

Worked example

Use your calculator to work out

7.8 + 2.351.62 − 0.9

Give your answer correct to 2 decimal places.

Work out the top

7.8 + 2.35=10.15
Work out the bottom
1.62=2.56
2.56 - 0.9=1.66
Divide, and write the full display
10.15 ÷ 1.66=6.114457831...

6.11

The questions

1

Use your calculator to work out

  1. 4.72
  2. 3.13
2 marks
Show answer
a) 22.09 b) 29.791
See the working

a) x2 key

4.72=22.09

22.09

b) x3 key

3.13=29.791

29.791

2

Use your calculator to work out

  1. √17.64
  2. the cube root of 15.625
2 marks
Show answer
a) 4.2 b) 2.5
See the working

a) √ key

√17.64=4.2

4.2

b) cube root key

∛15.625=2.5
check
2.5 × 2.5 × 2.5=15.625

2.5

3

Use your calculator to work out

(6.3 + 2.48) × 1.6

Write down all the figures on your calculator display.

2 marks
Show answer
14.048
See the working

Brackets first

6.3 + 2.48=8.78
8.78 × 1.6=14.048

14.048

4
  1. Ade works out the cost of some cinema snacks, in pounds. His calculator shows 7.2
    Write down the cost as an amount of money.
  2. Ade works out the time a coach journey takes, in hours. His calculator shows 2.4
    Write down the time in hours and minutes.
2 marks
Show answer
a) £7.20 (two decimal places for money, not £7.2 or £7.02) b) 2 hours 24 minutes (accept 2 h 24 min)
See the working

a) Money has 2 decimal places

£7.20

b) 0.4 of an hour into minutes

0.4 × 60=24

2 hours 24 minutes

5
  1. Use your calculator to work out
    12.6 + 8.14.5 − 1.2
    Give your answer correct to 2 decimal places.
  2. Sam types 12.6 + 8.1 ÷ 4.5 − 1.2 into his calculator and gets 13.2
    Explain the mistake Sam has made.
3 marks
Show answer
a) 6.27 b) He did not use brackets, so only 8.1 was divided by 4.5. He should type (12.6 + 8.1) ÷ (4.5 - 1.2)
See the working

a) Top

12.6 + 8.1=20.7
Bottom
4.5 - 1.2=3.3
20.7 ÷ 3.3=6.272727...

6.27

b) Without brackets ÷ is done first

12.6 + 1.8 - 1.2=13.2

Type (12.6 + 8.1) ÷ (4.5 - 1.2)

He left out the brackets

6

Use your calculator to work out

(38 + 512) ÷ 23

Give your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.

2 marks
Show answer
1916
See the working

Fraction key, brackets first

38 + 512=1924
1924 ÷ 23=1916
Check by hand
1924 × 32=5748
=1916

1916

7

Use your calculator to work out

√(3.22 + 62)

2 marks
Show answer
6.8
See the working

Inside the root first

3.22=10.24
62=36
10.24 + 36=46.24
√46.24=6.8

6.8

8

Petrol costs 142.9p per litre.

Hana buys 36.5 litres of petrol.

Work out how much she pays. Give your answer in pounds, to the nearest penny.

2 marks
Show answer
£52.16
See the working
142.9 × 36.5=5215.85
pence to pounds
5215.85 ÷ 100=52.1585

nearest penny = 2 decimal places

£52.16

9
  1. Use your calculator to work out (6.4 × 107) ÷ (1.6 × 103)
    Give your answer in standard form.
  2. Ella's calculator shows the answer to a different calculation as 2.5 × 10−3
    Write this as an ordinary number.
2 marks
Show answer
a) 4 × 104 (accept 40000) b) 0.0025
See the working

a) Use the ×10x key and brackets

6.4 ÷ 1.6=4
107 ÷ 103=104

4 × 104

b) 10-3 means ÷ 1000

2.5 ÷ 1000=0.0025

0.0025

10

Use your calculator to work out

5.63 − √2002.1 + 0.352

  1. Write down all the figures on your calculator display.
  2. Give your answer to part (a) correct to 3 significant figures.
3 marks
Show answer
a) 72.65415720 (the first figures are 72.654...) b) 72.7
See the working

a) Top

5.63=175.616
√200=14.14213562...
175.616 - 14.14213562...=161.4738644...
Bottom
0.352=0.1225
2.1 + 0.1225=2.2225
161.4738644... ÷ 2.2225=72.65415720...

72.65415720

b) 3rd significant figure is 6, next digit 5 rounds up

72.7

Your score

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Every question here is original and written by Robinson Tuition. The grade follows the Edexcel grade descriptors and suits AQA and OCR too; this is not an exam-board paper. It is also on the Edexcel International GCSE (4MA1).

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