How to use DeskSmarts

Finding your way around

• The coloured menu at the top holds the six big areas of maths: Number, Algebra, Ratio and Proportion, Geometry and Measures, Probability, and Statistics. Each has its own colour, so you always know which area you are in. Pick one to see its topics.
• The contents panel shows where you are, which area and which page, and lists the other pages in that area so you can jump straight to them.
• The search box finds any topic by name. If you already know what you are looking for, start there.

What's on every topic page

In a Nutshell

The one-line heart of the topic: the single most important idea, in plain English. If you remember nothing else, remember this. Read it first to get the gist, then read it again at the end. If it makes sense the second time, the topic has clicked.

The explanation

A short, clear walk through the idea, with the words kept to a minimum and the picture doing the work.

The diagram

The star of the page, and the part to actually play with. Drag the sliders, press the buttons, and watch what changes. Maths makes far more sense when you can see it move, so do not just read past it.

Watch it work

A worked example. Press the button to reveal the solution one step at a time. Before you reveal each step, try to guess what comes next; you will learn more that way than by reading the whole thing at once.

Have a go

Your turn. Try each question yourself first. Then "Show working" reveals the method and "Show answer" reveals just the answer. The trick is to have a real attempt before you peek; getting it a bit wrong first is how it sticks.

Mind the Gap

The classic mistake people make on this topic, and how to dodge it. Worth a look even when you feel confident.

Where You'll Meet This

Where the idea turns up in real life, so you can see why it is worth knowing.

Getting the most out of it

• Try before you peek: attempt the questions and predict the steps before revealing them.
• Play with the diagrams rather than just reading them.
• If a topic does not make sense, follow the link to the topic before it. The pages build on each other, so a gap earlier often explains a struggle later.
• Use DeskSmarts alongside your class and homework, to understand the idea, not to skip the practice.

Printing notes

Every topic page can be printed. Choose "Study notes" for a clean sheet with the explanation, the worked example with all its steps shown, and the key points, which is good for revision. Choose "Worksheet" for the questions on their own with space to write, which is good for practice or homework.

For parents and teachers

DeskSmarts follows the Year 7 (Key Stage 3) maths curriculum, organised into the six National Curriculum areas. It is built to sit alongside classroom teaching: a place to see a concept explained visually, work through an example, and practise, with methods and answers revealed on demand. The print options give you ready-made revision notes or worksheets for any topic.