Follow Me

Sep 012020
 

This video from Aljazeera explains the origins of Algebra and how important it is for us today.

Al-Khwarizmi: The Father of Algebra

None of the great achievements of modern science would be possible without the mathematisation of science and the development of algebra. *Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was a 9th-century Muslim mathematician and astronomer. *He is known as the “father of algebra”, a word derived from the title of his book, Kitab al-Jabr.

Al-Khwarizmi
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/science-in-a-golden-age/2015/10/al-khwarizmi-father-algebra-151019144853758.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/science-in-a-golden-age/2015/10/al-khwarizmi-father-algebra-151019144853758.html
Apr 132020
 

This quiz has been doing the rounds on social media. Apologies to the author, but I can’t credit you as I don’t know who you are!

A very common mistake in maths exams is to forget to label the axes of a graph. Here are 10 graphs without labels on the y axis. Can you use your skill and judjement to work out what they should be? Click on the graph to enlarge it.

Feb 232018
 

A letter to the Sheffield Star

 

Dear Editor

As someone who teaches maths for a living it saddens me when I see mathematical errors in your paper.

In a letter about Council Tax increases (21.2.18) Ron Sanderson claimed that last year’s 5.99% rise combined with this year’s 4.99% rise made a total increase of 10.98%. He has added the percentages, ignoring the fact that this year’s increase is 4.99% more than the new total for last year.

For every 100p you paid in Council Tax in 2016, you paid 100 x 1.0599 in 2017.
In 2018 you will pay 100 x 1.0599 x 1.0499 which equals 111.28p or an increase of 11.28%

Understanding percentages is vital when working out things like Council Tax rises, pay claims, credit agreements or interest earnt on investments. People who don’t understand percentages and APR’s are much more likely to be ripped off. If you need help with maths visit my website at www.mathswithgraham.org.uk where you will find free activities, some with a Sheffield theme such as the Sheaf Valley Maths Trail, to help people of all levels, from the very basic up to Higher GCSE.

Yours faithfully

Maths with Graham

Here is the original letter.

 Posted by at 9:00 pm