Maths in the Victorian Classroom
Age 7 to 14
What was it like to learn maths at school in the Victorian period? We visited the British Schools Museum in Hitchin to find out.
From A Random World to a Rational Universe
Age 7 to 16
In the time before the mathematical idea of randomness was discovered, people thought that everything that happened was part of the will of supernatural beings. So have things changed?
The Dangerous Ratio
Age 11 to 14
This article for pupils and teachers looks at a number that even the great mathematician, Pythagoras, found terrifying.
The Four Colour Theorem
Age 11 to 16
The Four Colour Conjecture was first stated just over 150 years ago, and finally proved conclusively in 1976. It is an outstanding example of how old ideas can be combined with new discoveries. prove a mathematical theorem.
The History of Negative Numbers
Age 11 to 18
This article -useful for teachers and learners - gives a short account of the history of negative numbers.
The Development of Algebra - 1
Age 11 to 18
This is the first of a two part series of articles on the history of Algebra from about 2000 BCE to about 1000 CE.
Women in Maths
Age 11 to 18
Most stories about the history of maths seem to be about men. Here are some famous women who contributed to the development of modern maths and prepared the way for generations of female mathematicians.
The Development of Algebra - 2
Age 11 to 18
This is the second article in a two part series on the history of Algebra from about 2000 BCE to about 1000 CE.
A Brief History of Time Measurement
Age 11 to 18
Noticing the regular movement of the Sun and the stars has led to a desire to measure time. This article for teachers and learners looks at the history of humanity's need to measure things.
The History of Trigonometry- Part 1
Age 11 to 18
The first of three articles on the History of Trigonometry. This takes us from the Egyptians to early work on trigonometry in China.
History of Trigonometry - Part 2
Age 11 to 18
The second of three articles on the History of Trigonometry.
Ancient Astronomical Terms
Age 11 to 18
Some explanations of basic terms and some phenomena discovered by ancient astronomers
History of Trigonometry - Part 3
Age 11 to 18
The third of three articles on the History of Trigonometry.
Randomness and Brownian Motion
Age 16 to 18
In Classical times the Pythagorean philosophers believed that all things were made up from a specific number of tiny indivisible particles called ‘monads’. Each object contained a different number of particles, and so they believed that ‘everything was number’.
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.