NRICH Secondary Curriculum Map

The problems linked below have detailed Teachers' Resources suggesting how they can be used in the classroom.

Please email any comments to secondary.nrich@maths.org

Looking for primary problems? See the NRICH Primary Curriculum Map.

Key

Games are indicated by ‘G’ and Articles by 'A'.

Tasks badged filled star are suitable for the whole class;
Tasks badged filled starfilled star are suitable for the majority;
Tasks badged filled starfilled starfilled star are for those who like a serious challenge.

Highlight ‘Thinking mathematically’ or ‘Mathematical mindset’ problems

STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY

Pre-Secondary Age 11 – 12 Age 15 - 16 Extension

Statistics

Statistics

Describe, interpret and compare observed distributions of a single variable through: appropriate graphical representation involving discrete, continuous and grouped data; and appropriate measures of central tendancy (mean, mode, median) and spread (range, consideration of outliers)
Litov's Mean Value Theorem Litov's Mean Value Theorem
Start with two numbers and generate a sequence where the next number is the mean of the last two numbers...
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Searching for mean(ing) Searching for mean(ing)
If you have a large supply of 3kg and 8kg weights, how many of each would you need for the average (mean) of the weights to be 6kg?
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Statistical shorts Statistical shorts
Can you decide whether these short statistical statements are always, sometimes or never true?
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About Average About Average
Can you find sets of numbers which satisfy each of our mean, median, mode and range conditions?
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M, M and M M, M and M
If you are given the mean, median and mode of five positive whole numbers, can you find the numbers?
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How would you score it? How would you score it?
Invent a scoring system for a 'guess the weight' competition.
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Half a minute Half a minute
Anna, Ben and Charlie have been estimating 30 seconds. Who is the best?
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Unequal Averages Unequal Averages
Play around with sets of five numbers and see what you can discover about different types of average...
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Wipeout Wipeout
Can you do a little mathematical detective work to figure out which number has been wiped out?
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For richer for poorer For richer for poorer
Charlie has moved between countries and the average income of both has increased. How can this be so?
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Construct and interpret appropriate tables, charts, and diagrams, including frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts, and pictograms for categorical data, and vertical line (or bar) charts for ungrouped and grouped numerical data Interpret and construct tables and line graphs for time series data
Substitution Cipher Substitution Cipher
Find the frequency distribution for ordinary English, and use it to help you crack the code.
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Who's the best? Who's the best?
Which countries have the most naturally athletic populations?
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Olympic Records Olympic Records
Can you deduce which Olympic athletics events are represented by the graphs?
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Tree tops Tree tops
Can you make sense of information about trees in order to maximise the profits of a forestry company?
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What's the weather like? What's the weather like?
With access to weather station data, what interesting questions can you investigate?
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Construct and interpret diagrams for grouped discrete data and continuous data, i.e. histograms with equal and unequal class intervals and cumulative frequency graphs, and know their appropriate use
Describe simple mathematical relationships between two variables (bivariate data) in observational and experimental contexts and illustrate using scatter graphs Use and interpret scatter graphs of bivariate data; recognise correlation and know that it does not indicate causation; draw estimated lines of best fit; make predications; interpolate and extrapolate apparent trends whilst knowing the dangers of doing so
Reaction timer Reaction timer
This problem offers you two ways to test reactions - use them to investigate your ideas about speeds of reaction.
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Estimating time Estimating time
How well can you estimate 10 seconds? Investigate with our timing tool.
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Olympic Triathlon Olympic Triathlon
Is it the fastest swimmer, the fastest runner or the fastest cyclist who wins the Olympic Triathlon?
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Infer properties of populations or distributions from a sample, whilst knowing the limitations of sampling
In the bag In the bag
Can you guess the colours of the 10 marbles in the bag? Can you develop an effective strategy for reaching 1000 points in the least number of rounds?
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Picturing the world Picturing the world
How can we make sense of national and global statistics involving very large numbers?
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Perception versus reality Perception versus reality
Infographics are a powerful way of communicating statistical information. Can you come up with your own?
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Interpret, analyse and compare the distributions of data sets from univariate empirical distributions through: • Appropriate graphical representation involving discrete, continuous and grouped data, (including box plots) • Appropriate measures of central tendency (including modal class) and spread (including quartiles and inter-quartile range)
Box plot match Box plot match
Match the cumulative frequency curves with their corresponding box plots.
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Which list is which? Which list is which?
Six samples were taken from two distributions but they got muddled up. Can you work out which list is which?
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Apply statistics to describe a population
Statistics short problems

Probability

Record, describe and analyse the frequency of outcomes of simple probability experiments involving randomness, fairness, equally and unequally likely outcomes, using appropriate language and the 0-1 probability scale Use a probability model to predict the outcomes of future experiments; understand that empirical unbiased samples tend towards theoretical probability distributions, with increasing sample size
Statistical shorts Statistical shorts
Can you decide whether these short statistical statements are always, sometimes or never true?
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Sociable Cards Sociable Cards
Move your counters through this snake of cards and see how far you can go. Are you surprised by where you end up?
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Do you feel lucky? Do you feel lucky?
Some people offer advice on how to win at games of chance, or how to influence probability in your favour. Can you decide whether advice is good or not?
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What does random look like? What does random look like?
Engage in a little mathematical detective work to see if you can spot the fakes.
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Which spinners? Which spinners?
Can you work out which spinners were used to generate the frequency charts?
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Who's the winner? Who's the winner?
When two closely matched teams play each other, what is the most likely result?
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The Better Choice The Better Choice
Here are two games you can play. Which offers the better chance of winning?
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Understand that the probabilities of all possible outcomes sum to 1 Apply the property that the probabilities of an exhaustive set of mutually exclusive events sum to one
At least one... At least one...
Imagine flipping a coin a number of times. Can you work out the probability you will get a head on at least one of the flips?
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Same Number! Same Number!
If everyone in your class picked a number from 1 to 225, do you think any two people would pick the same number?
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Enumerate sets and unions/ intersections of sets systematically, using tables, grids and Venn diagrams
Generate theoretical sample spaces for single and combined events with equally likely, mutually exclusive outcomes and use these to calculate theoretical probabilities Calculate the probability of independent and dependent combined events, including using tree diagrams and other representations, and know the underlying assumptions
Odds and Evens Odds and Evens
Are these games fair? How can you tell?
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Flippin' discs Flippin' discs
Discs are flipped in the air. You win if all the faces show the same colour. What is the probability of winning?
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Interactive Spinners Interactive Spinners
This interactivity invites you to make conjectures and explore probabilities of outcomes related to two independent events.
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Non-Transitive Dice Non-Transitive Dice
Alison and Charlie are playing a game. Charlie wants to go first so Alison lets him. Was that such a good idea?
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Two's company Two's company
Seven balls are shaken. You win if the two blue balls end up touching. What is the probability of winning?
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Cosy corner Cosy corner
Six balls are shaken. You win if at least one red ball ends in a corner. What is the probability of winning?
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Last one standing Last one standing
Imagine a room full of people who keep flipping coins until they get a tail. Will anyone get six heads in a row?
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In a box In a box
Chris and Jo put two red and four blue ribbons in a box. They each pick a ribbon from the box without looking. Jo wins if the two ribbons are the same colour. Is the game fair?
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Chances are Chances are
Which of these games would you play to give yourself the best possible chance of winning a prize?
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Odds and Evens made fair Odds and Evens made fair
In this follow-up to the problem Odds and Evens, we invite you to analyse a probability situation in order to find the general solution for a fair game.
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Mathsland National Lottery Mathsland National Lottery
Can you work out the probability of winning the Mathsland National Lottery?
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Calculate and interpret conditional probabilities through representation using expected frequencies with two-way tables, tree diagrams and Venn diagrams
Probability short problems