Maths Advance

Nostalgia for the maths department! Has anyone recently delivered this classic investigation? If not, but you would like to, click the Google Drive link in the comments for free pupil and teacher sheets. #ITeachMath #MathsToday #MathSky

A comment on the PISA results.

In #MathsToday was a second delivery of my quadratics in disguise lesson, this time to the non further-maths class. Also included this time around were tricky quadratic substitutions into quartic equations - with thanks to @bewilda.bsky.social.

#MathsToday was spent with year 2 trainees from @teachfirstmaths.bsky.social and their excellent staff. Many questions, and much enthusiasm and curiosity. All in all, really great stuff.

In #MathsToday year 12 seemed shocked I asked them to explain, rather than simply apply, a graph transformation: "It moves 5 units to the right" "Why"? This was apparently an unexpected follow-up.

Exciting week for us as we welcome over 150 ECTs back for the first training day of year 2. They will be thinking about their class data, digging into effective revision, learning about the ambassador project they will complete this year, and doing some maths from @mathsadvance.bsky.social

#MathsToday Saturday morning maths: A positive quadratic curve, C has x-intercepts P and Q and a y-intercept R. PQR is an equilateral triangle with the below area. What is the equation of the curve C?

In #MathsToday, an enjoyable part of the lesson with Year 12: quadratics in disguise. I grouped them into five forms. Would you organise them differently?

In #MathsToday, it is lovely to receive messages like this. Free school access is open to all, so even if you’re curious, please email me and you'll be set you up pronto! I also worked with 30 PGCE students exploring problem-solving and had time to drop into Borough Market on the way home. 😀

In #MathsToday, I set my wonderful Year 12 Further Maths class the nine-colour cube problem as a lunchtime challenge. Two correct solutions emerged after the usual end-of-week fish and chips.

#MathsToday (yesterday) Did the Opposite Corners investigation with year 9 class who have been expanding double brackets in recent lessons. They definitely enjoyed applying what they had recently learnt!

AI only used to create this video! In the latest investigation, however, pupils identify a manageable search space, derive an algebraic test for solutions, then use a computer to systematically search it. The starter plan is free for schools and includes this investigation and others. #MathsToday

In #MathsToday more was added to the free plan: Two classics, and a new investigation where pupils narrow down possibilities mathematically before searching digitally for solutions. Plus three fun and unique activities that do not compromise on the maths! All free. Take a look.

I think I am correct in saying a few dedicated souls have attended all 40 previous MathsConfs. I'm looking forward to attending what I think is my 6th on the 5th. If you are looking for structured investigations or ways to embed problem-solving then say hello. #UKMathsChat #MathsToday

Teachers: Agree or disagree? Today, achieving GCSE grade 5/6 does not mean a candidate is unsuitable for A-Level studies. In 2001, achieving a grade B did not mean a candidate was unsuitable for A-Level studies. How old am I? 😬 #MathsToday

In #MathsToday The Maths of Democracy investigation completed. As per the the cities investigation, hopefully it is a little different to your typical investigation looking at changing rates of democracy, calculations of democratic scores and gerrymandering all using accessible KS3 maths.

How long to solve? A regular hexagon, H, has a perimeter equal to that of a regular octagon, O. Express the ratio of the area of H to the area of O in exact form. #iTeachMath #MathSky #MathsToday

Maths peeps This is what you currently see on Maths Advance when scrolling the investigations page. What buttons could be added here? When you click into an activity you see: description; prior knowledge, approximate total time, and instructions. #MathsToday #MathSky #iTeachMath

Summer giveaway (2 of 2): First correct solution gets a free annual subscription. In a triangle one angle is double the size of another angle, and one angle is triple the size of another angle. Find each of the different possible sizes of the smallest angle. #ITeachMath #MathsToday #MathSky

In #MathsToday The Maths of Cities investigation completed and tested. Hopefully it is a little different to your typical maths investigation: percentages, graphs, ratios but applied in a structured way to house prices, pollution and salaries.

In #MathsToday finished another investigation. Now to read my book whilst an old colleague (physics) tests it over coffee. The clue is not especially cryptic! What does the investigation look at? #ITeachMath #MathSky

Summer giveaway (1 of 2): First correct solution gets a free subscription for next year. George rolls a dice five times. The mean of the rolls is double the mode, and the range is double the mean. In how many different ways could George have rolled the dice? #ITeachMath #MathsToday #MathSky

Are Maths teachers more likely to read non-fiction than history teachers? A friend just suggested to me that history teachers were more likely to read fiction, so perhaps it goes full circle with most English teachers reading Devlin and Fry. I just read this - 8/10. #iTeachMath #MathsToday

In #MathsToday (well last week actually) a visit to Ormiston Rivers Academy to run four problem-solving workshops with plenty of wonderful 'aha!' moments. A most enjoyable final working day before summer.

For teachers: Looking for a solid extension task? Here is a lovely question that interleaves three different mathematical topics to challenge your pupils. Find x. #MathsToday #iTeachMath #MathsSky

In #MathsToday I have been catching up on emails from schools trialling Maths Advance and who are keen to run more workshops - great stuff! If you would like an investigation for a couple of year groups to run before the end of term, please do send an email. #EduSky #MathsEnrichment

In #MathsToday delivered the 'Passing Through' investigation to two wonderful Year 7 groups at Channing School, Highgate. They investigated, formed an unusual algebraic expression involving HCF, and then applied it. It is always great to see pupils engaging in more exploratory maths.

How long to solve? A regular hexagon has a side length 'a', and a square has a side length 'b'. Given that the area of the hexagon is equal to the area of the square, show that 'a' can be written in the following form where 'x' and 'y' are rational numbers to be deduced. #MathSky #MathsToday

For teachers: Agree or disagree? There is currently a shortfall in high-quality maths enrichment. Aside from the usual competitions, out-of-classroom experiences and/or engaging speakers are hard to find. What enrichment is actually working for your school? #UKMathsChat #MathsToday

For parents: In the age of AI, what makes a young person unique is what makes them valuable. If your child has a gift for mathematics, lean into it. Encourage them to tackle unfamiliar problems and think independently. Reach out if you would like to discuss further. #parenting #FutureSkills

For teachers: Agree or disagree? The history of mathematics should be a part of the curriculum at KS4/5. One valid criticism of British education is that pupils specialise too early. Exploring the history of maths could provide much-needed cultural breadth. #MathsToday #MathsSky #iTeachMath

For parents: Suppose your child scores highly in mathematics. What should happen next? More practice? Or an opportunity to tackle challenging and unusual problems where the solution is not immediately obvious? What sort of skills will be most valuable in the long term? #parenting #UKParents

How long to solve? A classic question: given that the blue shape is a square, and the three green lines are equal, justify (without a calculator) which is greater: the sum of the three green lengths or the red circumference. #iTeachMath #MathSky #MathsToday

For teachers: Agree or disagree? Exam boards should make the full archive of their assessment materials freely searchable and available to all schools, regardless of which board they use. Sharing of resources would bring sector-wide benefits. #MathsToday #UKMathsChat #iTeachMath