Mathematical Miscellany #51

MathsPad – Equations

My recent post on Bar Modelling has had some updates, note Pearson Edexcel GCSE Maths Networks on YouTube; you can watch Naomi Bartholomew-Millar’s excellent session on Bar Modelling.

Additionally, two slideshows have been added to illustrate The Mathenæum from Ken Wessen one on Modelling Word Problems and the other on Fractions, Decimals and Percentages. Also added is a worksheet from MathsPad; you can download the resource free from the Mathspad site here; it is the worksheet, Using Bar Pictures to Solve Equations. This provides a great introductory exercise for students getting used to solving equations with bar models. I like the way the questions progress; questions include giving the students the equation only, they must provide the diagram and the solution; questions are also provided where only the diagram is given. Note the other free resources to try in this set of resources; MathsPad is a subscription site (excellent value in my opinion) but there are numerous free resources you can try.


I wrote about Maths White Board recently (now included in the Use of Technology series available from the top menu). This excellent site continues to go from strength to strength, Matt Woodfine is adding tutorial videos, you can see the first on the Question Level Analysis tool now.

We also have interactive class games – brilliant!
Note the video on how to use the keypad tool on the Maths White Board site.

Transum Mathematics – Simultaneous Shopping

For a great introduction to simultaneous equations, try Simultaneous Shopping from Transum, a reminder of just how helpful diagrams can be. Level 1 is illustrated.

Simultaneous Shopping – Level 5

Level 5 uses coupons to introduce the idea of negative coefficients.


AMSP – Motivating students at KS4

From AMSP, see Motivating students at KS4, this is a package of support designed to support Key Stage 4 students who have had their maths learning disrupted due to the pandemic. The resources aim to help maintain student interest, motivate their learning and encourage them to consider studying maths post-16. Several resources are already available and more will be added this summer term.

I do like ‘A formula for prime numbers’ which could be used for a lesson on proof. The examples usefully illustrate that it is possible for lots of examples to work for a given formula, but this is not evidence that proves the result.


blutick – Conditional Probability

I included information on blutick in my post on Transformations; a recent tweet from blutick reminded me to revisit these resources; each blutick topic includes clearly explained videos, worked examples and interactive questions. 

You can explore topics that provide comprehensive coverage for UK KS3 and KS4 and several other curricula. See blutick’s resources centre for Curriculum Mapping Guides which include Common Core, Singapore, IB, England KS3,4, England KS2, Cambridge International and Australia. We see from the pricing information that this library of videos and interactive questions will always be free.


Amanda Austin has produced some more of her excellent revision grids, it’s good to see some resources for IGCSE as well as GCSE. See the Revision section (under Algebra and Probability on Dr Austin Maths.

From Ofsted see their publication on Mathematics (25th May 2021) in its research review series; Schools Week has published a speed read summary. You can read more on the principles behind the research reviews here. An important read alongside the review is Anne Watson’s response on pmtheta.com.


A reminder of the approaching Core Maths Festival, the full programme is here. I added a Core Maths page to the 16+ series recently. (Included in Updates)


On the subject of festivals, we also have the Pearson Maths Festival 2021, a two week celebration of Maths.

Leave a Reply