More information on the mathematics and numeracy experiences and outcomes

Explanations of specific experiences and outcomes

The following explanations are intended to help you interpret the numeracy and mathematics experiences and outcomes.

MNU 1-10a

Developing a child’s understanding of 12 hour time in depth takes place through first level. Young learners will become familiar with 24 hour notation in their surroundings through TV listings, computers, cookers, DVD players and videos. They will naturally make links with 24 hour notation and the routines in their day. The next stage of development, the formal manipulation of 24 hour time, is included in MNU 2-10a – understanding and using timetables.

MNU 4-03a

The ability to apply and transfer familiar concepts to solve problems is fundamental for mathematical developments. As one example, young people will be familiar with the fact that 2.5 is a quarter of 10 and will know how to find 10% of a quantity. When asked to consider a less familiar calculation e.g. 2.5% of £840 the combination of these previously-acquired skills could lead them to suggest 1/4 of £84 to be a possible solution.

MNU 3-07a and MNU 4-07a

MNU 3-07a develops skills that allow learners to carry out calculations involving fractions, decimal fractions and percentages and then make decisions and choices. For example: which is the better buy, 3 for the price of 2 or a 30% discount?

MNU 4-07a develops the skills that allow learners to use their knowledge of interrelationships between fractions, decimal fractions and percentages to choose an elegant route to the solution. As an example, when asked to evaluate a discount of 12.5% on an item costing £800, an elegant solution would involve the understanding that 12.5% is 1/8, and that calculating 1/8 of £800 will provide the answer to the size of the discount.

MTH 3-11b

As this is a third level outcome, it is envisaged that the majority of shapes and objects will be formed from rectangles and triangles. However, for young people with well-developed understanding, problems involving circular properties could be introduced and investigated.

MNU 4-10a

Using time efficiently is necessary in the work place, in lifelong learning, leisure time and all other aspects of daily life. The ability to estimate how long different tasks take and then build a programme of sequential tasks is a critical numeracy skill which is fundamental to effective time management.

MNU 4-01a, MNU 4-11a

MNU 4-01a and MNU 4-11a are closely related. MNU 4-01a develops the concept of tolerance within estimating and rounding whereas MNU 4-11a is the practical application within measurement. The ability to work to the appropriate degree of accuracy is an essential numeracy skill. The degree of accuracy demanded varies of course according to the task.

For example, the degrees of accuracy needed for measuring the dimensions of a room before buying a new carpet, measuring the opening when fitting a new door or machining a moving part within a combustion engine will be quite different. Or again, when a 4 metre length of wood is cut into 7 equal pieces, should each length be 0.57142 metres or will 0.57 metres be acceptable? The ability to handle spurious precision and report using an appropriate degree of accuracy should always be encouraged.

MTH 3-15a, MTH 3-15b and MTH 4-15a

• MTH 3-15a promotes the ability to form and solve simple equations from written statements and pictorial representation (as an example, think of a number, double it and add seven, the answer is 23. What is the original number?).
• MTH 3-15b promotes the ability to construct mathematical formulae from pictorial representations. A fundamental teaching point is that a formula has an output solution which will vary depending on the input number. A possible case could be a progression of diagrams where red tiles are surrounded by white tiles. When the patterns are analysed, the formula W = 2R + 6 is found to represent the pattern in each of the diagrams.
• MTH 4-15a promotes the ability to form inequalities from written and pictorial information, then demonstrate an understanding that inequalities are solved through a set of appropriate numbers. It also promotes the ability to form and solve equations, using the ability to simplify through balancing.

MNU 4-20a

This experience and outcome relates to a learner's developing skills in interpreting a data set or the information contained in, for example, box plots, stem and leaf diagrams, line graphs, bar graphs, histograms and pie charts. Having considered this information it is important for learners to understand key features of these different ways of presenting information in order to be able to select appropriate forms and communicate findings to others.

MNU 4-22a

MNU 4-22a is intended to develop the link between simple probability and expected frequency. Having gained an understanding of these two concepts, the ability to assess the impact of a particular course of action based on risks and benefits is a very important skill for life.