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Catalyst: Nautical Robots

How might you find out how much and where the Earth's oceans are warming? Watch the report by Ruben Meerman and discover how more than 3000 'nautical robots', known as argo floats, have been placed in the oceans to collect data on variations in temperature, pressure and salinity.

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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: Tree Biomass

In this sequence of two lessons, students investigate how many trees would be required to supply paper for their school for a year. Students use similar triangles, Pythagoras' Theorem and algebra to design and construct a Biltmore stick, used to measure the diameter and height of a tree. They measure trees, calculate their ...

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Catalyst: Take the Phi Golden challenge

The golden ratio, Phi: fact or fallacy? What about the Fibonacci sequence? We are told this ratio and its cousin Fibonacci occur everywhere in nature. Let's see which of these claims stacks up when put to the test.

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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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Using maths to understand the universe

When completed, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project will be the largest and most capable radio telescope available to scientists. Radio telescopes like the SKA detect radio waves produced by events and objects in the furthest reaches of space, translating these waves into data and imagery that allow scientists to study ...

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reSolve: Algebra: Sums & Differences of Squares

This sequence of three lessons explores sums and differences of two squares. Students are introduced to the historical context of using lookup tables for multiplications and challenged to investigate and generalise the underlying process using algebraic means. In subsequent lessons students use visual and algebraic methods ...

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MathXplosion, Ep 22: How to communicate numbers with Roman numerals

Explore an alternative way to communicate numbers using the anchor numbers 5 and 10 and the ancient Roman counting system based on letters. Roman numerals were used throughout Europe well into the middle ages and still appear in the names of monarchs, the production year of films, on buildings and on timepieces.

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Comparing fuel consumption

Is it more fuel efficient to drive or fly between two places? Watch this clip and learn how to calculate the answer. What are the various factors that need to be taken into account? This video was made using the American measurement of gallons per hour, American firgures for the average number of passengers in a car and ...

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MathXplosion, Ep 50: How to use a tetrahedron to solve the tree problem

How can you place four trees exactly the same distance apart from one other? By making a model! By using miniature trees to make a model of the problem, it becomes clear that a 2D solution is impossible. We learn how objects can help us visualise the problem situation, which in this case requires a 3D solution: a tetrahedron.

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Patterns, primes and Pascal's Triangle

Are you intrigued by patterns? Check out Vi Hart as she explains how to visualise patterns in prime numbers, using Ulam's Spiral. Watch as Vi creates patterns, using Pascal's Triangle to explore relationships in number. See what happens when she circles the odd numbers. What rule does she use to create the final pattern?

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reSolve: Algebra - Prisms and pyramids

This lesson engages students in investigating the relationship between the number of faces, edges and vertices of pyramids and prisms. Students construct their own 3D shapes, systematically record the properties of the shape and develop an algebraic formula to generalise the relationships discovered. The lesson is outlined ...

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reSolve: Algebra: Think of a number- Binomial Equations

This lesson engages students in investigating a 'think of a number' game and then model it visually and algebraically. This develops skills in algebraic operations including expanding, factorising and collecting like terms. Students investigate whether the game will work for any number and are challenged to generate the ...

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Are plants mathematicians?

Ever noticed that plants are examples of Fibonacci numbers? Watch Vi Hart draw examples of flower petals and leaf growth that follow this pattern. See how plants seem to use Phi (.), the golden ratio. Find out how to make your own 'angle-a-tron' to create interesting petal designs. This is the second in a series of two.

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reSolve: Pythagoras' Theorem - Bent bamboo

This lesson challenges students to use Pythagoras' Theorem to solve a problem from an ancient Chinese text. They make physical models of the problem and use this to construct a graph. They use algebra skills associated with binomial expansions and simplification of fractions to show that the general solution given in the ...

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reSolve: Pythagoras' Theorem - Phone finding

This lesson challenges students to apply Pythagoras' Theorem to explore a practical real-world problem. Students explore technology reliant on mathematical concepts. The lesson is outlined in detail including curriculum links, vocabulary, materials needed, sample answers, discussion points and student resources such as ...

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Introduction to algebra

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses the introduction of algebra. It is particularly relevant for introducing the idea of the use of a variable as a way of representing numbers. There are pages for both teachers and students. The student pages contain interactive questions for students ...

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TIMES Module 33: Number and Algebra: factorisation - teacher guide

This is a 17-page guide for teachers. It continues the discussion of factorisation. In particular, the techniques for the factorisation of quadratic expressions are presented.

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Laptop wrap: Parallelendicular

Students construct a series of GeoGebra applets that investigate the parameters gradient and intercepts of straight lines. They reinforce this knowledge with Microsoft Math 3.0. 

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Mental computation

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that discusses methods of mental computation. In particular, applying the associative, commutative and distributive laws to aid mental and written computation is discussed. These are important ideas for the introduction of algebra. There are pages for both teachers ...