Guide to Maths - GCSE (9-1) Design and Technology Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Design and Technology (1DT0)

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by nayy☆

Guide to Maths for GCSE (9-1) Design and Technology (Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2, 1DT0) outlines the maths content delivered across KS3 and KS4, aligning terminology, examples, and teaching approaches with design and technology needs. The guide structures learning by key concepts, including rounding, standard form, significant figures, and interpreting percentage error within GCSE expectations. It also covers ratios, fractions, percentages, surface area and volume, and the presentation and interpretation of data using tables and multiple chart types.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages35

Reading Time1 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Introduction

1a Recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form

1b Use ratios, fractions and percentages

1c Calculate surface area and volume

2a Presentation of data, diagrams, bar charts and histograms

3a Plot, draw and interpret appropriate graphs

3b Translate information between graphical and numeric form

4a Use angular measures in degrees

4b Visualise and represent 2-D and 3-D forms

4c Calculate areas and surface areas and volumes

Guide to Maths GCSE (9-1) Design and Technology Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Design and Technology (1DT0) GCSE Guide to Maths for Design and Technology Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 1a Recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form 4 Rounding 4 Writing numbers in standard form 6 1b Use ratios, fractions and percentages 9 Fractions and decimals 9 Percentages 10 Converting between fractions, decimals and percentages 12 Ratios 14 1c Calculate surface area and volume 16 Converting units of surface area and volume 16 2a Presentation of data, diagrams, bar charts and histograms 18 Bar charts 18 Frequency tables 20 Frequency diagrams 21 Comparative bar charts 21 Compound bar charts 22 Histograms 22 Pie charts 24 Selecting charts for displaying data 26 3a Plot, draw and interpret appropriate graphs 27 Scatter graphs, correlation and lines of best fit 27 Interpreting scatter graphs 29 Drawing line graphs 29 Interpreting line graphs 31 3b Translate information between graphical and numeric form 31 4a Use angular measures in degrees 32 4b Visualise and represent 2-D and 3-D forms, including two-dimensional representations of 3-D objects 33 4c Calculate areas of triangles and rectangles, surface areas and volumes of cubes 33 Introduction This guide to maths for design and technology outlines the content that students will have covered in their maths lessons throughout KS3 and KS4 . You can use this guide to help you understand how different areas are approached in maths, and therefore support your teaching of mathematical content in design and technology lessons. The content is split into distinct mathematical concepts. Each chapter takes you through the terminology used in that area, as well as examples taken from Pearson maths textbooks to show you the methods students should be familiar with when solving mathematical problems. Sections which are highlighted green have a particular connection or reference to design and technology and may include examples. Sections which are highlighted blue refer to student inconsistencies and common errors. 1a Recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form Rounding Demand All KS3 students will have learned to round to the nearest whole number and 1, 2 or 3 decimal places. They should be able to cope with rounding to more decimal places as an extension of rounding to 3 decimal places. Significant figures At GCSE only Higher tier students learn about upper and lower bounds and percentage error. For percentage error they answer questions such as: Given a percentage error of ± 10%, what is the largest/smallest possible value? Answering questions such as‘What is the percentage error?’ for a given value is not covered in the GCSE maths specification. Approach Look at the digit after the last one you want to keep. Round up if this digit is 5 or more; round down if it is 4 or less. Rounding to 1 decimal place (1 d.p.) 5.4|326 less than 5 round down 5.4 (1 d. p.) 5.2|91 5 or more round up 5.3 (1 d. p.) 5.3|5 5 or more round up 5.4 (1 d.p.) On a number line, round to the nearest value with 1 decimal place: 5.29 5.35 5.4326 5.2 5.25 5.3 5.35 5.4 5.45 5.5 Rounding to 2 decimal places (2 d.p.) 35.42|9 126.37|2 5 or more less than 5 round up round down 35.43 (2 d. p.) 126.37 (2 d. p.) Rounding to 3 decimal places (3 d.p.) 0.053|21 11.291|5 less than 5 round down 5 or more round up 0.053 (3 d. p.) Rounding to significant figures Small numbers 1st significant figure = 4 ten thousandths 0.000 483 11.292 (3 d. p.) Large numbers 1st significant figure = 5 hundred million 518 376 000 Round to 2 significant figures (2 s.f.) 0.000 48|3 0.000 48 less than 5 round down 51|8 376 000 5 or more round up 520 000 000 Add zeroes so the 5 is still in the‘hundred million’ position Upper and lower bou

FAQs

What is the purpose of this maths guide for Design and Technology students?

The guide outlines maths content covered throughout KS3 and KS4 and helps teachers understand how key areas are approached in maths to support design and technology lessons.

How does the guide explain rounding for different GCSE/KS3 levels?

It describes rounding to whole numbers and decimal places, applying the digit after the last retained place to round up (5 or more) or round down (4 or less), including examples on a number line.

What kind of data representations are included for presenting and comparing information?

It covers bar charts, frequency tables and diagrams, comparative and compound bar charts, histograms, pie charts, and guidance on selecting appropriate charts.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by nayy☆