Maths help
Stuck on a battery? We'll show you how.
Every wrong answer in Volt Racers comes from one of a small number of algebra concepts. Find yours below, read the worked example, and try one yourself before heading back to the race.
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What is substitution?
What does x = 4 actually mean? How do you replace a letter with a number and evaluate an expression? Start here if you are new to substitution or need a refresher.
Linear Cup
Linear expressions
Expressions like 3x + 1 and 4x − 3. One or two operations. The building blocks of substitution.
Quadratic Grand Prix
Brackets and inequalities
Expressions like 2(x + 3) − x, and statements like 3x + 1 > 10. Brackets must come first. Inequalities need a true or false judgement.
Quadratic Grand Prix
Powers and negative numbers
Expressions with x² and negative values of x. The most common mistake in the whole game lives here — squaring a negative.
Quadratic Grand Prix
Multi-term expressions
Three-term expressions like x² + 3x − 4. Negative values throughout. Keeping track of signs across every step.
Cubic Championship
Cubic expressions
Four-term expressions like x³ + 2x² + 3x + 4. Evaluating a cube step by step without losing your place.
Cubic Championship
Decimal values of x
What changes when x is 2.5 or −1.5. How to substitute a decimal carefully and what to do with the result.
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