Histograms from Waldo Maths
Do you know the difference between the various statistical diagrams?
A new page has been added to the Explore Series which includes several applets which will allow you to explore different diagram types.
The excellent Maths Careers site are running a Photo competition for students resident in the UK age 11 to 19 and undergraduate. Full details are available on the site, the competition closes on 15th June 2012.
To explore the different graphs you should be familiar with for GCSE (UK key stage 4 – age 14-16) use the links on each slide:
This is also available as a pdf. Desmos Graphs GCSE.
The pdf should also display well on a phone.
This has also been added to the Explore Graphs page which has several free online resources to help you explore graphs.
See also Explore Straight Lines.
This has been doing the rounds on the Internet recently.
This problem can be solved by pre-school children in five to ten minutes, by programmers in an hour and by people in higher education ….well, check it yourself!
I’m pleased to say despite my various Maths degrees I solved the problem quickly!
I obviously have the mind of a pre-schooler!
You can find a hint then check the answer here.
I present the problem as posed everywhere – though it looks like a misuse of the = sign!
Only put an equals sign between equal expressions!
How about some mathematical songs?! (Click the link for a list of song links).
My students like these, particularly the Circle Song!
The Klein Four are a bit beyond school Mathematics you may appreciate this if you are studying a Mathematics degree!
Coventry University designed this video to explain the complex mathematics that we take for granted in everyday life.
It’s episode 1 – we look forward to more!
Let’s suppose you are looking for some extra examples. You have probably checked all the usual websites, BBC Bitesize for example (also available on Facebook).
Some of my students were recently looking at examples like this and wanted some further problems:
Note the thinking behind this:
You should spot that the denominator is the difference of two squares, hence (x+5)(x-5)
If we are to have any hope of simplifying when we factorise the numerator, one of the factors must be (x+5) or (x-5), of those two it must be (x-5) or we would not be able to obtain the -19x term.
Factorise the numerator: (3x-4)(x-5)
A site perhaps not so well known by students is The Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. If you choose the GCSE course material and scroll down the page you will see all the pupil textbook chapters. (Also note all the other materials for students from 5 – 18!)
Chapter 10 on equations includes many useful algebra examples and exercises including problems of the type above (see worked example 1 on page 41 and the exercises on page 43). Note that each GCSE section has answers.
You should check any factorisation by multiplying out your answer. You could also check answers using WolframAlpha.
Note that you could enter the whole expression and simplify it – WolframAlpha will give you alternate forms; for this type of question you are require to give the simplest single fraction that you can.
You could use the Desmos Graphing Calculator to explore straight lines.
Suppose you want to have a look at the graph of y = 2x+1. All you need do is click and type your function.
Note that you can easily change the colour of the graph (particularly useful if you have more than one graph on the screen). Simply click the arrow for the menu.
If you select settings you can easily change the axes.
You can use sliders in the Desmos calculator to explore families of graphs.
If you type in y = ax + b you will be given the option to add sliders.
Select all to add both sliders:
Now click on the image below and try changing the values of a and b and see the changes to the graph.
Did you participate in World Maths Day?
World Maths Day was on Wednesday 7th March so it’s all over for another year and the Hall of Fame is finalised.
If you enjoy games of this kind Sumdog and Tutpup are free all year round. For other free Number games see this page also this page on games collections; the collections from Math Playground and that from Oswego City School District are particularly good for mental arithmetic. For practise at tables, including against the clock see this collection.
Manga High have recently added a multi-player option to Sundae Times which tests multiplication from 1×1 to 15×15 - play other students from round the world!
