Step 6 Objective

Identify the necessary information to carry through tasks and solve mathematical problems. Check results and consider whether they are sensible.

Examples of what pupils should know and be able to do

Final Score investigation

The final score in a football game was 2-1

  • List possible half-time scores.
  • How many are there?
  • Investigate other final score.
picture of a line art football

Examples drawn from Final Score

Use a system that consistently produces all possible half-time scores.

five lists of all possible half time scores, totalling in three, nine, twelve, fifteen and eighteen respectively

Probing questions

What was the most important information that you needed to use?

How did you check your results/findings?

Do your results/findings seem reasonable?

How do you know?

What if pupils find this a barrier?

diagram showing three lines crossing

Line Crossings

  • Draw three straight lines (line segments) so that some cross over each other.
  • How many crossings are there?
  • Try different arrangements of the lines. What is the maximum number of possible crossings?
  • Try using more lines.
  • Is there a rule for the maximum for any number of lines? If so, write it down.

Use the problem Line Crossings.

Look at all of the diagrams with five (or six) lines:

  • How could you organise your results so that they go from smallest to largest number of crossings?
  • What patterns can you see?
  • Do you think that there are any mistakes? (or explain why you think your results are correct)
  • What happens when more than two lines cross at the same point?

How many crossings are there here, one, three or six? Explain.

diagram showing 4 lines all crossing at the same point