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GCSE Mathematics · key term
The distance of a number from zero, ignoring its sign; for example, the magnitude of is .
Used by Edexcel and OCR
Specification N2, N14, G25 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
Revise: Calculating with Positive and Negative NumbersA useful way to think about signed numbers is through their magnitude, or distance from zero.
The general size of a number, used to judge whether an answer is plausible.
The size or length of a vector, without reference to its direction.
Specification 2.02b · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher), Paper 5 (Higher), Paper 6 (Higher)
The distance of a number from zero, ignoring its sign; for example, the magnitude of is .
For multiplication and division, determine the sign first and then calculate using the magnitudes.
When multiplying by a negative scalar, remember both effects: the direction reverses and the magnitude is multiplied by the scalar's absolute value.
Deal with the sign and the magnitude separately when negative decimals are involved.
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