Transum – Combinations resources

Number

5. apply systematic listing strategies including use of the product rule for counting

The UK GCSE specifications include systematic listing strategies.

Some resources for this topic:

Transum Combination Starters

Transum Mathematics has many excellent resources including a section on Combinations, where you will find Combinations starters, activities and investigations. The Transum site includes links to some videos includes The Counting Principle which provides a clear introduction. There is alao a whole section on Systematic Listing Strategies with activities from level 1 to level 7. Note Transum’s clear index for teachers and for students, Maths Map with numerous activities to support their learning.

On Corbett Maths, see Product Rule for Counting.

Nrich – Fraction Combinations

Nrich has a sophisticated problem, Fraction Combinations which not only asks students to systematically list possibilities but work with fractions too.

benmossmaths – area problem

Ben Moss has a rather nice area problem which it seems to me will involve students in some systematic listing! I tried this with Year 7 and it worked very well.

AQA have a very clear Teaching Guidance document with many useful examples, I use these a lot in class. If you use or are considering using AQA you can register here (there seems to be a problem with the link on the Teaching Guidance document page).

AQA Teaching Guidance

And finally (for now!) Don Steward has this bracelets or necklaces problem.

Don Steward – combinations

Have a look at this post on Just Maths: Product Rule for Counting which includes Pearson / Edexcel exam questions and solutions.

Just Maths

Bobbie Bear – from NCTM Illuminations, whilst aimed at younger students, how many ways can you give Bobbie Bear a different outfit? An excellent example when thinking about systematic listing strategies!