Standards of basic maths

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  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #32

    I was quite good at maffs and ingerlish when I was at skool Surprised

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited December 2016 #33

    You neglected to post your results though K! Wink

    Dinna dea easy yins  Wink  

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited December 2016 #34

    The third one could be 19. The 1/3 is not necessarily a third of 6 but rather 6 divided by thirds which is 18 + 1 is 19. In fact I would argue it is or it would have been 2 instead of 1/3?........or am I looking too deep?????

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited December 2016 #35

    Apparantly our schools are ranked 15th in the world.......somewhere behind Lithuania, was it?

    Not good......

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #36

    The third one could be 19. The 1/3 is not necessarily a third of 6 but rather 6 divided by thirds which is 18 + 1 is 19. In fact I would argue it is or it would have been 2 instead of 1/3?........or am I looking too deep?????

    No the answer is 1. You can't just work left to right ie 9-3 = 6 then divide by one third (which you correctly say would be 18). Division comes before addition and subtraction.

    3 divided by one third is 9, so then its 9 - 9 +1

    Think about a caravan engineer charging £50 call out fee plus £20 per hour, for 2 hours the sum is

    50 + 2x20 

    If you work left to right you get 52 x 20 = £1040 rathr than the correct answer of 50 + 40 = £90.

     

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited December 2016 #37

    I would think that an American  Caravan engineer would invoice as below.

    Call out charge ------------$ 50

    2 hours @ $ 20  ----------  $ 40

     

    Total. Bill ----------------- . $ 90

     

    Sorry folks but there is no pound sign on this tablet.

    Cheers :.................K Wink

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited December 2016 #38

    1st = 22

    2nd = 15

    3rd = 1

    4th = 105

     

     

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited December 2016 #39

    Hoping my maths stands up (I'm sure Corners will correct if not) Embarassed

    21, 14, 1 & 81

     

    No.1.

    Horse + Horse + Horse = 30, so Horse = 10

    10 + (2 Horseshoes) + (2 Horseshoes) = 18, so (2 Horseshoes) = 4

    4 – (2 Boots) = 2, so (2 Boots) = 2

    Assuming 1 Boot is (2 Boots) / 2 = 1 and 1 Horseshoe is (2 Horseshoes)/2 = 2

    Then, 1 + 10 x 2 = (10 x 2) + 1 = 21   [using BODMAS]

    No.2.

    Apple + Apple + Apple = 30, so Apple = 10

    10 + (4 bananas) + (4 bananas) = 18, so (4 bananas) = 4

    4 – (2 half coconuts) = 2, so (2 half coconuts) = 2

    Assuming 1 half coconut is (2 half coconuts) / 2 = 1 and 1 banana is (4 bananas)/4 = 1

    Then, 1 + 10 + 3 = 14

    No.3. 

    Using BODMAS,

    9 / (1/3) = 9

    9 – 9 = 0

    0 + 1 = 1

     No. 4.

    Red Flower + Red Flower + Red Flower = 60, so Red Flower = 20

    20 + (5 Petal Blue Flower) + (5 Petal Blue Flower) = 30, so (5 Petal Blue Flower) = 5

    5 - (2 Yellow Flowers) = 3, so (2 Yellow Flowers) = 2

    Assuming 1 Yellow Flower is (2 Yellow Flowers) / 2 = 1 and each petal on the blue flower is (5 petals)/5 = 1

    Then 1 + 20 x 4 = (20 x 4) + 1 = 81    [using BODMAS]

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited December 2016 #40

    I now tend to agree

    Hoping my maths stands up (I'm sure Corners will correct if not) Embarassed

    21, 14, 1 & 81

     

    No.1.

    Horse + Horse + Horse = 30, so Horse = 10

    10 + (2 Horseshoes) + (2 Horseshoes) = 18, so (2 Horseshoes) = 4

    4 – (2 Boots) = 2, so (2 Boots) = 2

    Assuming 1 Boot is (2 Boots) / 2 = 1 and 1 Horseshoe is (2 Horseshoes)/2 = 2

    Then, 1 + 10 x 2 = (10 x 2) + 1 =
    21
      [using BODMAS]

    No.2.

    Apple + Apple + Apple = 30, so Apple = 10

    10 + (4 bananas) + (4 bananas) = 18, so (4 bananas) = 4

    4 – (2 half coconuts) = 2, so (2 half coconuts) = 2

    Assuming 1 half coconut is (2 half coconuts) / 2 = 1 and 1 banana is (4 bananas)/4 = 1

    Then, 1 + 10 + 3 =
    14

    No.3. 

    Using BODMAS,

    9 / (1/3) = 9

    9 – 9 = 0

    0 + 1 =
    1

     No. 4.

    Red Flower + Red Flower + Red Flower = 60, so Red Flower = 20

    20 + (5 Petal Blue Flower) + (5 Petal Blue Flower) = 30, so (5 Petal Blue Flower) = 5

    5 - (2 Yellow Flowers) = 3, so (2 Yellow Flowers) = 2

    Assuming 1 Yellow Flower is (2 Yellow Flowers) / 2 = 1 and each petal on the blue flower is (5 petals)/5 = 1

    Then 1 + 20 x 4 = (20 x 4) + 1 =
    81   
    [using BODMAS]

    I now tend to agree with your reckoning - thought I was doing OK Embarassed

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited December 2016 #41

    Sorry, its should be 3 / (1/3) = 9 not 9 / (1/3) = 9, I have copied the question incorrectly. 

    ....but the answer is correct to the question (as Corners has already demonstrated). 

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited December 2016 #42

    Seems odd that I remembered the BODMAS rules (but confess I had forgotten the  term) when presented with actual numbers at 3

    Yet, when presented with representation just completely forgot to apply them.   Undecided Embarassed

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited December 2016 #43

    Sorry folks but there is no pound sign on this tablet.

    Cheers :.................K Wink

    Does it say Pfizer?

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited December 2016 #44

    People dont really realise how important mathematics can be. Important professions like Physics, Engineering, Medical research, Medicine, and  IT and many other disciplines need a high level of mathematics knowledge.

    Basic maths, as taught in comprehensive schools is allegedly not good enough to prepare students for university studies of those important subjects, therefore as a result, there is a shortage of graduates into those interesting professions.

    Cheers............K

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #45

    Top marks to CJ!

    By the way, those of us that were taught BODMAS (and this includes me) are showing their age. Its BIDMAS now in schools, the i for indcies.

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited December 2016 #46

    All that spurious talk about bodmas and bidmas is irrelevant to a student.  So unless Parentheses is being used ....which determines what operation is performed first..

    The rule of thumb is :-  Start at the Left  Cool

    The rules are straightforward and are as follows :-

     

    1. Multiply and divide from left to right.    
    2. Add and subtract from left to right.
  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2016 #47

    Seems odd that I remembered the BODMAS rules (but confess I had forgotten the  term) when presented with actual numbers at 3

    Yet, when presented with representation just completely forgot to apply them.   Undecided Embarassed

    Second nature to me as I have had an engineering background throughout my working life.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2016 #48

    Top marks to CJ!

    By the way, those of us that were taught BODMAS (and this includes me) are showing their age. Its BIDMAS now in schools, the i for indcies.

    Corners, I didn't know that, thankyou. Everyday is a School dayHappy

  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited December 2016 #49

    People dont really realise how important mathematics can be. Important professions like Physics, Engineering, Medical research, Medicine, and  IT and many other disciplines need a high level of mathematics knowledge.

    Basic maths, as taught in comprehensive schools is allegedly not good enough to prepare students for university studies of those important subjects, therefore as a result, there is a shortage of graduates into those interesting professions.

    Cheers............K

    How very interesting....Undecided

    I'll be sure to let my nephew know that his A*s aren't good enough

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #50

    Good posts 'Corners', always good to refresh the memory box Happy

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited December 2016 #51

    `Is there any significance in the fact that the UK has dropped to 27th place for maths in the civilised world. I'm sure someone more knowlegable than me will elucidate. Should we be worried ??? 

    This thread is about Standards of basic maths after all.

    Cheers..............................K

    RankCountryMean score

    -

    OECD average

    490

    1

    Singapore

    564

    2

    Hong Kong (China)

    548

    3

    Macao (China)

    544

    4

    Chinese Taipei

    542

    5

    Japan

    532

    6

    B-S-J-G (China)

    531

    7

    Korea

    524

    8

    Switzerland

    521

    9

    Estonia

    520

    10

    Canada

    516

    11

    Netherlands

    512

    12

    Finland

    511

    13

    Denmark

    511

    14

    Slovenia

    510

    15

    Belgium

    507

    16

    Germany

    506

    17

    Ireland

    504

    18

    Poland

    504

    19

    Norway

    502

    20

    Austria

    497

    21

    Vietnam

    495

    22

    New Zealand

    495

    23

    Australia

    494

    24

    Sweden

    494

    25

    Russia

    494

    26

    France

    493

    27

    United Kingdom

    492

    28

    Portugal

    492

    29

    Czech Republic

    492

    30

    Italy

    490

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2016 #52

    A few years ago I worked fairly closely with the ICI technician apprenticeship scheme.  The people on the scheme were high achievers but ICI sent them all back to college as the maths they left school/college with just wasn't suitable for industry.  So IMO
    something not right if the curriculum doesn't teach what industries/vocations required

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited December 2016 #53

    Basic Maths K! (....well statistics)

    That is just a page of place names and numbers, so unless you are stating how the numbers have been derrived, it means nothing! Wink

    Measures, sample size, spread etc. etc.

     

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited December 2016 #54

    Basic Maths K! (....well statistics)

    That is just a page of place names and numbers, so unless you are stating how the numbers have been derrived, it means nothing! Wink

    Measures, sample size, spread etc. etc.

     

    Write your comments here...Dinnae hae time fur awe that -- Hiv a gander at they OECD statistics oan thon internet, aboot educashun and maths. Guid readin !!!

    Cheers .......................K

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited December 2016 #55

    Top marks to CJ!

    By the way, those of us that were taught BODMAS (and this includes me) are showing their age. Its BIDMAS now in schools, the i for indcies.

    In these eco-sensitive times I would have expected BIOMAS

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited December 2016 #56

    27th out of 30 countries........maths teachers in the UK need to feel very ashamed. Sad

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited December 2016 #57

    Ian, is it not the curriculum that is at fault?. Surely the Teachers are just sticking to a set of Govt rules. That is then checked rigorously by ofsted to ensure they are sticking to the curriculum. 

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited December 2016 #58

    The third one could be 19. The 1/3 is not necessarily a third of 6 but rather 6 divided by thirds which is 18 + 1 is 19. In fact I would argue it is or it would have been 2 instead of 1/3?........or am I looking too deep?????

    No the answer is 1. You can't just work left to right ie 9-3 = 6 then divide by one third (which you correctly say would be 18). Division comes before addition and subtraction.

    3 divided by one third is 9, so then its 9 - 9 +1

    Think about a caravan engineer charging £50 call out fee plus £20 per hour, for 2 hours the sum is

    50 + 2x20 

    If you work left to right you get 52 x 20 = £1040 rathr than the correct answer of 50 + 40 = £90.

     

    Write your comments here...You need to know the rules of maths. It isn't logical. 'You can't just work from Left to Right ' So, when I sort the rules out I'll be able to do it!! Till then all i need to know is that my engineer hasn't over charged me!! 

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited December 2016 #59

    People dont really realise how important mathematics can be. Important professions like Physics, Engineering, Medical research, Medicine, and  IT and many other disciplines need a high level of mathematics knowledge.

    Basic maths, as taught in comprehensive schools is allegedly not good enough to prepare students for university studies of those important subjects, therefore as a result, there is a shortage of graduates into those interesting professions.

    Cheers............K

    With the current focus on STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths), which is a good thing, (I'm a STEM Ambassador) I argue the M should be changed to Manufacture as the first three are underpinned by maths and the output should be to make (manufacture)
    tangible things in the three fields.

    The recent drive to get more graduates as purely a tick box exercise is not delivering the levels of learning for Engineering. Engineering Technicians are probably the more benefit to society. There are 3 legally protected levels of Professional Registration
    that youngsters would be best encouraged to aspire to, Eng Tech, IEng and CEng, all of which are achievable without a degree. To focus young minds purely on the academic graduate route is not sufficiently productive for society, hence the oft laudered skills
    gap that is whinged about.

    It makes me question if there is a skills gap, I believe it's an experience gap, then who is making the determination on requisite skills if not competent people currently holding those skills. If the unknowing are making those decisions it's a bit like
    the blind leading the blind.

    This arena is fundamental to human existence. Humans need clothes on their backs, food in their belly and roof over their head; all of which are delivered by STE. The rest are luxuries.

    Bit deep, but something that I'm passionate about Happy