Numeracy Across the Curriculum

Bistromathics itself is simply a revolutionary new way of understanding the behaviour of numbers. Just as Einstein observed that space was not an absolute but depended on the observer's movement in space, and that time was not an absolute, but depended on the observer's movement in time, so it is now realized that numbers are not absolute, but depend on the observer's movement in restaurants.Adams, Douglas Life, the Universe and Everything.

Work these out

• 203712.6

• 340121362

• 14.7²+8.6³

I am ill at these numbers.

 

William Shakespeare, (1564-1616) Hamlet.

I'm sorry to say that the subject I most disliked was mathematics. I have thought about it. I think the reason was that mathematics leaves no room for argument. If you made a mistake, that was all there was to it.

Malcom X

The National Numeracy Strategy has ensured that pupils arrive at secondary school with secure number skills. Secondary maths departments effectively develop these skills so that they are fluently applied in all secondary subject studies. Olley, C.J. (1961-) A Statement

A good calculator does not need artificial aids.

 

Lao Tze (604-531 B.C.) Tao Te Ching

I remember once going to see him when he was lying ill at Putney. I had ridden in taxi cab number 1729 and remarked that the number seemed to me rather a dull one, and that I hoped it was not an unfavourable omen. "No," he replied, "it is a very interesting number; it is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways.“Hardy, Godfrey H. (1877-1947) Ramanujan, London: Cambridge University Press, 1940.

Which numbers are you happy with? (Work these out!)

147 + 149

224 ÷ 4

79 + 52

162 – 28

87 6

Calculating

Mental methods

 

Mental + thinking tools + jottings

 

Written methods

 

Calculators

How to deal with number problems

• Change the problem into one with numbers you are happy with

• Deal with these numbers

• Modify your answer to take account of the changes you made

The National Numeracy Strategy

Number Facts:

Doubles and Halves

Number Bonds

Times tables facts

 

Number Techniques:DecompositionMultiply and divide by 10, 100, 1000 etc.Change the orderEquivalencesNearest 10 and adjust

Supporting Students

• Work it out in your head

• Use a method that suits what you know

• Support with Numeracy facts and techniques

• Use jottings to support your thinking

• Use written methods as a last resort

• Only use a calculator when you have to