4 The format of questions

4.1 Understanding the question

Before you can attempt a question, you must read and understand it. This may sound obvious but you will need to know, before you start, what is expected by way of an answer. In particular, you will need to know the meaning of the instructions contained in the question. This section contains a discussion of the precise meanings attached to words like ‘find’, ‘show’, ‘write down’ and ‘determine’ in mathematics questions. The different types of instruction are illustrated by posing several questions all based on the same initial problem.