In this activity students are set the challenge of finding missing values such that the mean and variance of a Poisson distribution, a Binomial distribution and a normal distribution makes sense. The solution sheet contains three possible solutions.

This resource is part of the Making Stats Vital collection...

The workbook contains a number of simulations designed to aid students understanding of the Poisson distribution.

[b]Queuing simulation:[/b] is designed to introduce the Poisson distribution through a realistic application, that of simulating a supermarket checkout queue. Students choose the number of people...

In this resource, students consider whether two Poisson distributions can be added together to form a third Poisson distribution. The initial, discussion generating proposition is backed up by a proof. The resource also contains an accompanying spreadsheet on which students can run simulations to test the result....

This resource comprises a spreadsheet which models raindrops falling onto paving slabs. As the variables are adjusted associated graphs display both the experimental and theoretical results. The resource is designed to encourage discussion of how a binomial distribution can be approximated by a Poisson distribution...

In this resource students deal with an optimisation problem involving perimeter and area based on a Greek mythological story about a princess. She wants to maximise the area contained in a given perimeter and decides on a circle. The concept of the Isoperimetric...

This pack of worksheets, produced by the Spode Group, is designed to give students experience in problem solving during the early years of secondary school, and was written in response to publications encouraging the teaching mathematics through problem solving,...

This excel file deals with the puzzle where a number between 1 and 63 is chosen. That number can be seen on some of a set of six cards. The number can easily be calculated by looking at the cards containing that number. This puzzle is based on binary numbers and the fact that any number can be uniquely expressed as...

This resource, from Mathematics for Engineering Exemplars, shows the application of mathematics when investigating the volume of registration of engineers. Statistical calculations and graphical representations are used to explore the variations, over time, of membership by area of expertise. Detailed notes and...

This resource, from Mathematics for Engineering Exemplars, shows the application of mathematics within mechanical, electrical and electronics engineering. One of the principal applications of Root Mean Square values is with alternating currents and voltages. This activity demonstrates the calculations required to...

In this Bowland assessment task, students determine how long it would take for the judges to see every act that auditioned for a talent show. Students are told the total number of acts to be seen and have to determine what other information is required to find a solution. They have to make sensible estimates where...

This problem explores loci. A dog stands between a fire hydrant and a tree, twice as far from the hydrant as the tree. He runs in a way so that he is always twice as far from the hydrant. What is the shape of the dog's path?

Eight pieces of origami paper are shown after they have fallen on the floor. The challenge is to establish the order in which the papers fell on the floor.

In this challenge students have to establish the minimum number of fish tanks needed for six fish to live in harmony, as some fish cannot be placed in the same tanks as others safely.

In this puzzle four pieces of information are given about five children in a family. The challenge is to establish the age order of the five siblings.

Imagine a cube-frame made out of infinitely stretchy wire that could be flattened to make a 2D shape, what would it look like? In this puzzle students are given three such 2D representation of 3D shapes and have to name them.