Handling data

problem
Substitution cipher

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Find the frequency distribution for ordinary English, and use it to help you crack the code.
problem
Litov's mean value theorem

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Start with two numbers and generate a sequence where the next number is the mean of the last two numbers...
problem
Inspector Morse

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

You may like to read the article on Morse code before attempting this question. Morse's letter analysis was done over 150 years ago, so might there be a better allocation of symbols today?
problem
Tree tops

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Can you make sense of information about trees in order to maximise the profits of a forestry company?
problem
Winning team

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Nine cross country runners compete in a team competition in which there are three matches. If you were a judge how would you decide who would win?
article
Understanding hypotheses

This article explores the process of making and testing hypotheses.
article
Enriching data handling

This article for teachers looks at some suggestions taken from the NRICH website that offer a broad view of data and ask some more probing questions about it.
article
Meaningful statistics

This article for teachers describes an activity which encourages meaningful data collection, display and interpretation.
article
Cricket ratings

Like all sports rankings, the cricket ratings involve some maths. In this case, they use a mathematical technique known as exponential weighting. For those who want to know more, read on.
problem
Shifting average

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

What happens to the average if you subtract 8 from all of the numbers?