The RSS are reporting that the first figures from the 2011 Census have been released. The big headline is population growth – an increase of 3.7 million (7.1%) since 2001. Other than that, other key figures in the release show that the percentage of people aged 65 and over was the highest seen in any…
International Maths Olympiad results
We’re a bit late on this one but it’s still of interest: the 53rd International Mathematical Olympiad took place in Mar Del Plata, Argentina a couple of weeks ago. The event was hosted by the University of Buenos Aires together with the Argentine National Ministries of Education and of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation. No fuss…
A New Math Guide to the Olympics by Craig Damrauer
Reflect on the summer’s sport with some fun nonsense equations by writer Craig Damrauer. You need to click on the box to set each clip going. A New Math Guide to the Olympics on Nowness.com.
Keith Devlin’s Mathematical Thinking MOOC opens for registrations
Prof Keith Devlin of Stanford University is running a Massively Open Online Course (MOOC) on Coursera, titled “Introduction to Mathematical Thinking“, with a stated goal to “help you develop a valuable mental ability – a powerful way of thinking that our ancestors have developed over three thousand years.” MOOCs are big news, lately, with a…
Puzzlebomb – August 2012
Puzzlebomb is a monthly puzzle compendium. Issue 8 of Puzzlebomb, for August 2012, can be found here: Puzzlebomb – Issue 8 – August 2012 The solutions to Issue 8 can be found here: Puzzlebomb – Issue 8 – August 2012 – Solutions Previous issues of Puzzlebomb, and their solutions, can be found here.
Understanding maths ‘more important than learning by rote’ shocker
A study by Oxford University’s Department of Education and reported in the Telegraph claims that “those who were good at maths reasoning aged eight tended to do better at the subject in future years than classmates who simply knew their numbers”. This is pitched as a challenge to the current Government move towards rote learning…
The Alan Turing (Statutory Pardon) Bill first reading
As was hinted at in a debate in Parliament to mark the centenary of Turing’s birth, a private members’ bill has been introduced in the House of Lords seeking a pardon for Turing – and Turing alone – for his conviction of gross indecency when homosexual acts were illegal in the UK. The bill has…