Maths guides for parents
One common mistake per guide: why it happens, why it is a sensible mistake, and the three steps that untangle it at the kitchen table.
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Year 2
How do you read a pictogram when each picture is worth 2?
Your child counts the pictures and gets half the answer. Here is the three-step fix for Year 2 pictograms, from the SmartMaths team.
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Year 2
Why does my child think a quarter is bigger than a half?
“Four beats two” is why. The same shape cut into halves then quarters untangles it in one picture — from the SmartMaths team.
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Year 3
Is a third bigger than a quarter?
A third of 12 and a quarter of 16 both come to 4. Here is how to work out a fraction of a number with your Year 3 child, from the SmartMaths team.
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Year 5
How do you add decimals with different lengths?
6.35 + 1.4 is not 6.49. Line up the decimal points, not the ends — here’s how to show your Year 5 child, from the SmartMaths team.
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Year 5
What’s the difference between area and perimeter?
Perimeter is the distance around the edge; area is the squares that fill the inside. How to show your Year 5 child, from the SmartMaths team.
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Year 5
How to multiply by 99 in your head (and the mistake to expect)
Round 99 up to 100, multiply, then take away one whole group — not one. Why children write 599 for 6 × 99, from the SmartMaths team.