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Maths classroom posters for IGCSE and GCSE Maths

51 original posters for the classroom wall: key formulas, command words, how to check an answer, exam tips, growth mindset and problem solving, and a set of maths jokes. Each one is a free A4 PDF that also prints well at A3.

Key formulas

Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1) classroom poster: key number formulas, beside an illustrationNumber formulas (Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1)) Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1) classroom poster: key algebra formulas, with the ones given in the exam marked, beside an illustrationAlgebra formulas (Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1)) Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1) classroom poster: key graphs, sequences and calculus formulas, beside an illustrationGraphs, sequences and calculus formulas (Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1)) Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1) classroom poster: key geometry and trigonometry formulas, with the ones given in the exam marked, beside an illustrationGeometry and trigonometry formulas (Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1)) Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1) classroom poster: key statistics and probability formulas, beside an illustrationStatistics and probability formulas (Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1)) Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580) classroom poster: key algebra and graphs formulas, with the ones given in the exam marked, beside an illustrationAlgebra and graphs formulas (Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580)) Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580) classroom poster: key mensuration formulas, with the ones given in the exam marked, beside an illustrationMensuration formulas (Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580)) Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580) classroom poster: key trigonometry formulas, with the ones given in the exam marked, beside an illustrationTrigonometry formulas (Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580)) Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580) classroom poster: key probability formulas, beside an illustrationProbability formulas (Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580)) Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580) classroom poster: key statistics formulas, beside an illustrationStatistics formulas (Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580))

Command words

Classroom poster: command words, Calculate / Find, Show that, Hence, Sketch, Explain / Justify, Write down / State, each with what it asks you to doMaths command words: what the question is asking Classroom poster: more command words, Estimate, Prove, Plot, Solve, Simplify, Describe, each with what it asks you to doMore maths command words: estimate, prove, solve and more

Check your answer

Classroom poster: how to check your answer, estimate first. Round each number to 1 significant figure and work it out in your head. 48.7 × 3.1 ≈ 50 × 3 = 150. Is your answer close to 150?How to check your answer: estimate first Classroom poster: how to check your answer, put it back in. Substitute your answer into the original equation. Do both sides match? 3x + 4 = 19 gives x = 5. Check: 3 × 5 + 4 = 19 ✓How to check your answer: put it back in Classroom poster: how to check your answer, does it make sense?. Check the size, the sign and the units. A probability is between 0 and 1. A length is never negative. A person is not 15 metres tall.How to check your answer: does it make sense? Classroom poster: how to check your answer, work backwards. Undo each step and see if you get back to the start. Multiply to check a division. Expand to check a factorisation. Square to check a square root.How to check your answer: work backwards

Exam tips

Exam technique poster for IGCSE Maths 4MA1 Higher: Reverse percentages. Write "original × multiplier = new", then divide. Check by multiplying back.Exam tip: Reverse percentages (IGCSE Maths 4MA1 Higher) Exam technique poster for IGCSE Maths 4MA1 Higher: Histograms: area is frequency. Frequency = frequency density × class width. Use a bar you know to work out the scale.Exam tip: Histograms: area is frequency (IGCSE Maths 4MA1 Higher) Exam technique poster for IGCSE Maths 0580: Show your working. Write one line per step (what you work out, then the number). Keep going to the answer even if you are unsure of an earlier step.Exam tip: Show your working (IGCSE Maths 0580) Exam technique poster for IGCSE Maths 0580: And then: multiply. For A and then B (independent) multiply. Add only to combine different outcomes that cannot both happen. A tree diagram makes each route clear.Exam tip: And then: multiply (IGCSE Maths 0580)

Mindset and problem solving

Maths classroom poster: "Mistakes are information". Find the step where it went wrong. Fix it. Try again. Illustrated with a dragon curve.Growth mindset: mistakes are information Maths classroom poster: "I can't do this… yet". Every topic you know now was once a topic you didn't. Illustrated with each step is a little higher than the last.Growth mindset: I can't do this… yet Maths classroom poster: "Change the strategy, not the goal". If one method isn't working, try a different way in. Illustrated with a lissajous figure, traced by x = sin(3t + π/2) and y = sin(4t).Growth mindset: change your strategy, not your goal Maths classroom poster: "Ask a question". "Why does that work?" is one of the best questions in maths. Illustrated with asking why a method works helps you remember it and spot when it does not apply.Growth mindset: good mathematicians ask questions Maths classroom poster: "Stuck? Draw a diagram". A sketch, a table or a Venn diagram can make the problem clear. Illustrated with a venn diagram shows how sets overlap.Problem-solving: draw a diagram Maths classroom poster: "Try a simpler case". Solve a smaller version first, then build up. Illustrated with the sierpinski triangle is made by one simple rule repeated.Problem-solving: try a simpler case Maths classroom poster: "Look for a pattern". Work out the first few cases and see what repeats. Illustrated with pascal's triangle with its odd numbers coloured.Problem-solving: look for a pattern Maths classroom poster: "Work backwards". Start from what you want and ask what would give it. Illustrated with inverse operations undo each other.Problem-solving: work backwards Maths classroom poster: "Be systematic". List every case in order, so none are missed and none are counted twice. Illustrated with a table of cases in order is how you count outcomes without missing any.Problem-solving: be systematic Maths classroom poster: "What do I know? What do I need?". Write down the facts you are given and the thing you want. Illustrated with a penrose tiling.Problem-solving: what do I know, what do I need? Maths classroom poster: "Read the question again". Check you have answered exactly what was asked, in the form asked for. Illustrated with a koch snowflake.Problem-solving: answer the question that was asked

Jokes

Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling triangle asks: "Why was the kite flyer so good at trigonometry?" Punchline: "They always knew the angle of elevation."Why was the kite flyer so good at trigonometry? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling number 7 asks: "Why did 6 keep away from 7?" Punchline: "Because 7 8 9."Why did 6 keep away from 7? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling π symbol asks: "Why should you never start a conversation with π?" Punchline: "It goes on for ever."Why should you never start a conversation with π? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling triangle asks: "Why are obtuse angles always so grumpy?" Punchline: "Because they are never right."Why are obtuse angles always so grumpy? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling square asks: "How do you warm up in a cold classroom?" Punchline: "Stand in the corner. It's 90 degrees."How do you warm up in a cold classroom? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling triangle asks: "What did the triangle say to the circle?" Punchline: "You're pointless."What did the triangle say to the circle? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling number 7 asks: "Why did the two 4s skip lunch?" Punchline: "They already 8."Why did the two 4s skip lunch? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling number 7 asks: "Why did the decimal give up on the argument?" Punchline: "It couldn't see the point."Why did the decimal give up on the argument? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling equals sign asks: "Why is the equals sign so modest?" Punchline: "It knows it's not greater than or less than anyone."Why is the equals sign so modest? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling pair of parallel lines asks: "Why are parallel lines so sad?" Punchline: "They have so much in common but they'll never meet."Why are parallel lines so sad? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling triangle asks: "What did one angle say to the other?" Punchline: "You're acute one."What did one angle say to the other? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling number 7 asks: "What did 0 say to 8?" Punchline: "Nice belt!"What did 0 say to 8? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling square-root sign asks: "Where do square numbers grow?" Punchline: "From their square roots."Where do square numbers grow? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling bar chart asks: "Why is the mode always in fashion?" Punchline: "It turns up more often than anyone else."Why is the mode always in fashion? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling dice asks: "Why do people trust a fair dice?" Punchline: "It never plays favourites: every face has a 1 in 6 chance."Why do people trust a fair dice? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling Venn diagram asks: "How do two Venn diagram circles show they're friends?" Punchline: "They overlap."How do two Venn diagram circles show they're friends? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling letter x asks: "Why didn't x come back?" Punchline: "It was finally solved."Why didn't x come back? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling letter x asks: "Why did 3x and 5x get along so well?" Punchline: "They were like terms."Why did 3x and 5x get along so well? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling equals sign asks: "Why did the inequality sign turn round?" Punchline: "Someone multiplied it by a negative."Why did the inequality sign turn round? Cartoon maths joke poster. A smiling point on a pair of axes asks: "Where do graphs go to find themselves?" Punchline: "Back to the origin."Where do graphs go to find themselves?

Using the posters

Free to print and display in your school. Please keep our name on them. Using our posters · All our maths jokes · Knowledge organisers