Mathematics / Year 8 / Number

Curriculum content descriptions

use mathematical modelling to solve practical problems involving rational numbers and percentages, including financial contexts; formulate problems, choosing efficient calculation strategies and using digital tools where appropriate; interpret and communicate solutions in terms of the situation, reviewing the appropriateness of the model (AC9M8N05)

Elaborations
  • modelling situations involving weather and environmental contexts including temperature or sea depths by applying operations to positive and negative rational numbers; for example, involving average temperature increases and decreases
  • modelling situations that involve percentage increases or decreases and explaining why it is an increase or decrease, such as mark-ups, discounts, Goods and Services Tax, changes in populations or recycling rates
  • modelling situations involving personal income tax, interpreting tax tables to determine income tax at various levels of income, including overall percentage of income allocated to tax
  • modelling situations involving percentage increase or decrease such as market trends, effects on population, or effects on the environment over extended time periods
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Mathematical expressions,  Calculators,  Justification (Reasoning),  Proportions,  Mathematical problem solving

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Financial Mathematics: Simple Interest - Calculate

This unit introduces the calculation of simple interest, as a starter for learning about compound interest. Students learn about a range of ways in which interest generally is used and applied in the real world and then use the formula for calculating simple interest to solve borrowing, saving and investment problems.

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Mathematics, moon phases, and tides

Through this activity, students will learn the relationship between lunar phases and tides, graphically plotting the tidal range versus Moon phase over an annual cycle for a selected Australian port, as well as determining the mean tidal range for each lunar phase. Students will then focus on determining the relationship ...

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Different ways to pay

This lesson challenges students to explore the pros and cons of various payment options, how they spend their money, different consumer products and where to go for more information about saving money and debt. During the lesson, students investigate multiple payment options to choose those that suit their circumstances, ...

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Moving out of home

This lesson explores costs and responsibilities associated with moving out of home and setting up living arrangements. The resource is part of a suite of lesson plans and activities from MoneySmart, designed to bring everyday financial topics into the classroom.

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Mrs Sim's Dollars and Sense - Calculate

This alternate assessment task focuses on calculating gross and net wages before and after tax; operating and solving problems using simple and compound interest; and making valid comparisons between total accumulated costs and the initial (principal) amounts of money borrowed or invested.

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Percentages - Calculate

In this unit, let’s look at how percentages are used in everyday life to compare changes in things and measure rates of change.

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How does income tax work?

Gen Fricker makes income tax interesting! Learn about income tax - what it is, how it works and when you have to pay it. Easy-peasy! Then test yourself with ASIC Moneysmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.

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My Five Cents: Why borrowing can cost you more

Think credit cards are basically free money? Gen Fricker will make you think again. Learn how interest rates and fees affect the money you borrow, and why they may be more expensive in the long run. Oh dear! Then test yourself with ASIC MoneySmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.  

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BTN: What is the GST?

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax placed on things people buy with money or things people do for money. Can you name some goods and services that have GST? What about some goods and services that don't have GST? Find out when and why the GST was first introduced.

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Australia's Trade through Time

Using an interactive timeline created by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this teacher guide provides 12 series of learning experiences that engage students in the analysis and interpretation of data about Australian trade from 1900 to the present day. Students study videos, tables, images and texts in order ...

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TIMES Module 17: Number and Algebra: the unitary method - teacher guide

This is an 18-page guide for teachers. This module introduces the idea of ratios and rates.

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TIMES Module 20: Number and Algebra: percentages - teacher guide

This is a 15-page guide for teachers. This module introduces percentages and their many uses in science, commerce and measurement.

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My Five Cents: Why investing can be risky

Planning to get rich quick by investing one day? Before you jump in, let Gen Fricker explain some of the risks involved with different types of investments. Then test yourself with ASIC MoneySmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.  

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Big data, better hospitals

Overcrowding in hospitals is one of the biggest challenges facing our healthcare system . In order to reduce hospital waiting times, the Patient Admission Prediction Tool (PAPT) uses historical data to predict how many patients, and with what kinds of injuries, are expected to arrive at the emergency department each day ...

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reSolve: Polygon Pieces

This lesson explores the geometry of cutting polygons in different ways and using algebra to express subsequent findings. Students use one straight cut to divide a convex polygon into two new polygons. They make generalisations about the total number of sides of the two new polygons, and about the number of different combinations ...

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reSolve: Algebra: Think of a number - Linear Equations

This lesson explores algebra by generalising results from arithmetic used in 'think of a number' games. Students connect arithmetic operations with algebraic notation and visualisations. The lesson begins with an observation made using arithmetic that students then justify and extend using algebra. The lesson is outlined ...

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reSolve: Fibonacci Miles

This lesson introduces students to a trick for quick conversion between miles and kilometres using the Fibonacci sequence. Students are challenged to explain why the trick works. They investigate using their knowledge of ratio and discover that the miles/kilometres conversion rate is close to the golden ratio. The lesson ...

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reSolve: Quarter Cartons

This lesson challenges students to use algebra and proportional reasoning to investigate how changing the size of a paper square or rectangle impacts the dimensions of a box folded from that paper. Students apply knowledge about nets of 3D objects and explore algebraic relationships through a set of hands-on activities ...

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reSolve: Algebra: Tens and Units

This sequence of lessons aims to develop understanding of algebra as generalised arithmetic. Students learn to express 2- and 3-digit numbers in a general form and use this to explain results of arithmetic operations involving numbers with their digits reversed. The task links the ideas of place value with algebraic reasoning. ...

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reSolve: Working with algebra

This sequence of two lessons gives students opportunities to explore and share strategies for solving algebraic problems. The lessons focus on open-ended problem solving and developing multiple approaches to solving problems algebraically such as using like terms and substitution. Students work individually and in small ...