From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by Mathematics for Education and Industry (MEI), this activity for post-16 students shows how modelling helps decision making by allowing us to see what is likely to happen. The mathematical ideas covered are:
• Modelling cycle
• Binomial...

The Nuffield Foundation provide this resource where students use simulated stature data for men and women in eight countries to draw histograms and look for general results, as manufacturers need to take these into account when they design products. This is mainly intended as an introduction to the normal...

In this activity students begin with a simple introduction to the stock market; calculating new prices for a variety of fictional shares based on daily percentage changes.

The task requires students to calculate simple percentage changes. A spreadsheet is provided for students to record their results which...

In this resource students are challenged to determine the equation of the line that goes through a given coordinate point and is also tangential to a circle centred on the origin. The final step is to determine the radius of the circle.

The solution involves determining the gradient of the tangent and also...

From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI), this activity shows how, when introducing a new way of doing things, it is useful to model how it is likely to work. When comparing the value of money over a period of years, inflation needs to be taken into...

From the Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving project by Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI), this activity shows how changing the assumptions which a model is based on can change the way it behaves. It is important to compare predictions from a model to what we know happens in real life. This unit...

The Nuffield Foundation provide this resource which enables students to carry out significance tests on proportions and test hypotheses about successful applicants to higher education. The data provided on information sheet A is simulated but similar to real data available on the UCAS website. Information sheet B...

This activity enables students to consolidate their knowledge of the properties of two dimensional shapes by working with a variety of stained glass designs. The activity is based on a real life context and designed to aid class discussion about 2D shapes and symmetry. The images in the slideshow can be used to...

This resource, from the Maths Careers website, explores decimal numbers, predicting terms of a sequence and geometrical pictures and was produced in conjunction by More Maths Grads and the Queen Mary University of London.

The activity invites students find the maths hidden in everyday images, before...

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....

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...

In this presentation and collection of student worksheets a diagram shows a square and three right angled triangles, with each shape sharing a common side. Some of the lengths are given in surd form, from which students have to find the area of the square.

The solution involves the use of Pythagoras’ theorem...

This activity, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), requires students to design a magnetic tool holder for a robot surgeon.

It is intended that students will:
• Appreciate the potential of...

This activity, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), requires students to compete to make the strongest electromagnetic tool holder for a surgeon's robotic arm.

It is intended that students will be...