Checking your work is an essential part of solving maths problems accurately. It helps you spot mistakes and confirm that your answer makes sense.

There are several appropriate strategies you can use to check methods and solutions:

• Estimate the answer first to see if your final result is reasonable
• Use the inverse operation (for example, check addition with subtraction, or multiplication with division)
• Redo the calculation using a different method
• Substitute your answer back into the original problem
• Check units and signs, especially with decimals, negatives or measurements

You should be able to:

• Recognise when an answer is unreasonable
• Choose a suitable checking method
• Explain how you know your answer is correct

Good mathematicians don’t just get answers, they verify them. Checking builds confidence and reduces avoidable errors.