# Maths Analogies

Match the pictures to the mathematical phrases

1. Vertically opposite angles are equal
2. Negative gradient - top left to bottom right
3. a plus three b equals ...
4. The two sides of an equation are equal
6. Parallel lines never meet
7. Fractions represent part of a whole
8. Coordinates - go along before going up

Each of the matches you have made could be called an analogy. Which analogies help you understand Mathematics? Which analogies might give you the wrong idea about this subject? Can you think of any others?

## A Mathematics Lesson Starter Of The Day

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Topics: Starter | Memory | Mixed | Multiple Intelligences

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• I really like this idea and look forward to trying these out with my classes.
But I don't like your a + 3b picture! a is the number of apples and b the number of bananas and your picture screams a for apples and b for bananas at me!
It just reminded me of 'fruit salad' algebra which can cause misconceptions for students.
• Transum,
•
• There are certainly good analogies and bad analogies and the 'fruit salad algebra' one certainly has dangers. Interpreting a + 3b as the number of apples plus three times the number of bananas is quite different from considering a to be the cost or weight of an apple and b to be the cost or weight of a banana. It would make a good teaching point to un-pick this concept in an age appropriate way.

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## Have you read Craig's book yet?

Craig Barton must surely be the voice of Mathematics teachers in the UK. His wonderful podcasts interviewing the industry experts have culminated in this wonderful book. As Craig says: "I genuinely believe I have never taught mathematics better, and my students have never learned more. I just wish I had known all of this twelve years ago..." more...

"How I wish I'd taught Maths" is an extraordinary and important book. Part guide to research, part memoir, part survival handbook, it’s a wonderfully accessible guide to the latest research on teaching mathematics, presented in a disarmingly honest and readable way. I know of no other book that presents as much usable research evidence on the dos and don’ts of mathematics teaching in such a clear and practical way. No matter how long you have been doing it, if you teach mathematics—from primary school to university—this book is for you." Dylan Wiliam, Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment, UCL.

## Casio Classwiz Calculator

There is currently a lot of talk about this new calculator being the best in its price range for use in the Maths classroom. The new ClassWiz features a high-resolution display making it easier to view numerical formulas and symbols but it isn't a graphical calculator as such (it has the capacity to draw graphs on your smart phone or tablet, via a scannable QR code and an app).

As well as basic spreadsheet mode and an equation solving feature you also get the ability to solve quadratic, cubic or quartic polynomial inequalities and the answer is given just as it should be written down, using the correct inequality symbols!

This calculator has a high-performance processor and twice the memory of previous models ensuring speedy operation and superior computational power.more...

## Hello World

You are buying a (driverless) car. One vehicle is programmed to save as many lives as possible in a collision. Another promises to prioritize the lives of its passengers. Which do you choose?

Welcome to the age of the algorithm, the story of a not-too-distant future where machines rule supreme, making important decisions – in healthcare, transport, finance, security, what we watch, where we go even who we send to prison. So how much should we rely on them? What kind of future do we want?

Hannah Fry takes us on a tour of the good, the bad and the downright ugly of the algorithms that surround us. In Hello World she lifts the lid on their inner workings, demonstrates their power, exposes their limitations, and examines whether they really are an improvement on the humans they are replacing.

This calculator has a high-performance processor and twice the memory of previous models ensuring speedy operation and superior computational power.more...

 Teacher, do your students have access to computers?Do they have iPads or Laptops in Lessons? Whether your students each have a TabletPC, a Surface or a Mac, this activity lends itself to eLearning (Engaged Learning).

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Here is the URL which will take them to a related student activity.

Transum.org/go/?to=Analogies

For Students:

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