Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Invent scenarios which would give rise to these probability density functions.
Use the computer to model an epidemic. Try out public health policies to control the spread of the epidemic, to minimise the number of sick days and deaths.
Can you suggest a curve to fit some experimental data? Can you work out where the data might have come from?
Which line graph, equations and physical processes go together?
Why MUST these statistical statements probably be at least a little bit wrong?
Use your skill and knowledge to place various scientific lengths in order of size. Can you judge the length of objects with sizes ranging from 1 Angstrom to 1 million km with no wrong attempts?
How is the length of time between the birth of an animal and the birth of its great great ... great grandparent distributed?
The probability that a passenger books a flight and does not turn up is 0.05. For an aeroplane with 400 seats how many tickets can be sold so that only 1% of flights are over-booked?
This is our collection of tasks on the mathematical theme of 'Population Dynamics' for advanced students and those interested in mathematical modelling.
Simple models which help us to investigate how epidemics grow and die out.
Investigate circuits and record your findings in this simple introduction to truth tables and logic.
If a is the radius of the axle, b the radius of each ball-bearing, and c the radius of the hub, why does the number of ball bearings n determine the ratio c/a? Find a formula for c/a in terms of n.
How do you write a computer program that creates the illusion of stretching elastic bands between pegs of a Geoboard? The answer contains some surprising mathematics.
Which dilutions can you make using only 10ml pipettes?
Get further into power series using the fascinating Bessel's equation.
Can Jo make a gym bag for her trainers from the piece of fabric she has?
Here are several equations from real life. Can you work out which measurements are possible from each equation?
How efficiently can you pack together disks?
Match the charts of these functions to the charts of their integrals.
Was it possible that this dangerous driving penalty was issued in error?
Many physical constants are only known to a certain accuracy. Explore the numerical error bounds in the mass of water and its constituents.
See how enormously large quantities can cancel out to give a good approximation to the factorial function.
Estimate these curious quantities sufficiently accurately that you can rank them in order of size
Learn about the link between logical arguments and electronic circuits. Investigate the logical connectives by making and testing your own circuits and fill in the blanks in truth tables to record. . . .
Formulate and investigate a simple mathematical model for the design of a table mat.
Which units would you choose best to fit these situations?
How much energy has gone into warming the planet?
Find the distance of the shortest air route at an altitude of 6000 metres between London and Cape Town given the latitudes and longitudes. A simple application of scalar products of vectors.
Build up the concept of the Taylor series
By exploring the concept of scale invariance, find the probability that a random piece of real data begins with a 1.
Look at the advanced way of viewing sin and cos through their power series.
Each week a company produces X units and sells p per cent of its stock. How should the company plan its warehouse space?
An observer is on top of a lighthouse. How far from the foot of the lighthouse is the horizon that the observer can see?
When you change the units, do the numbers get bigger or smaller?
Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calculate various quantities in physical contexts.
Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calculate various quantities in biological contexts.
Match the descriptions of physical processes to these differential equations.
Are these statistical statements sometimes, always or never true? Or it is impossible to say?
In this short problem, can you deduce the likely location of the odd ones out in six sets of random numbers?
Could nanotechnology be used to see if an artery is blocked? Or is this just science fiction?
Explore how matrices can fix vectors and vector directions.
Explore the meaning behind the algebra and geometry of matrices with these 10 individual problems.
Go on a vector walk and determine which points on the walk are closest to the origin.
Explore the properties of matrix transformations with these 10 stimulating questions.
Explore the shape of a square after it is transformed by the action of a matrix.
Can you sketch these difficult curves, which have uses in mathematical modelling?
Get some practice using big and small numbers in chemistry.
This problem explores the biology behind Rudolph's glowing red nose.
Analyse these beautiful biological images and attempt to rank them in size order.
Explore the relationship between resistance and temperature