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INTERNATIONAL LINKS INTERNATIONAL LINKS
Maths focus: NCETM
The power of radicals
Rafi.ki
Making links: Pupils from King
Rafi.ki is a not-for-profit online community
John School in Essex can now
Mark McCourt
There are six mysteries covering ratio and
interact with students from
designed just for schools. It uses simple to
proportion, directed numbers, algebra, properties of
shape, locus, and probability.
schools in around 100 countries
use technology funded by the Department
explains how you Each mystery consists of a series of clue cards
for Children, Schools and Familes, the which pupils can use to solve a problem. I was
Department for International Development,
can bring some
particularly drawn to the probability mystery, which
and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation,
starts like this: “Six friends enter a race. Use the
enabling schools to work with each other mystery into maths
following cards to determine who is most likely to win
the race and with what probability. In what sequence
simply and effectively across the world.
would you expect the runners to finish the race?”
Rafi.ki provides a series of structured, WHAT HAVE being a mathematical genius and The clue cards say things like this: “C is twice as
cross-curricula projects that cover areas
being killed in a duel got in common? Fortunately, likely to win as B.”
such as slavery, climate change, conflict
for most of us, not much, but these events came One of the things that I like about this mystery is that
prevention, recycling, modern foreign
together in the life (and death) of Evariste Galois. there isn’t a unique solution. Different groups can arrive
Galois was born in southern Paris on October 25, at different solutions which could be equally correct if
languages, and creative writing.
1811. However, he was shot and killed in a duel in pupils can explain the reasons for their choice.
Gemin-i, the charity behind Rafi.ki, 1832, before he was 21. These activities would be helpful for you if you
has structured the community to provide
It’s a bit of a mystery as to why he was shot in are trying to integrate the key processes into your
support and allow for the sharing of ideas
the stomach by Perscheux d’Herbinville: some say scheme of work for key stage 3.
and experiences. Schools are encouraged
it was a feud over a woman and others that it was a Also, check out the National Centre for Excellence
Connecting
political killing. in the Teaching of Mathematics Secondary Magazine.
to find a partner in another country and
It does not, at least, seem likely to have been You will find lots of challenging articles and useful
work through projects together, providing related to mathematics. However, before he died he ideas.
a truly international dimension to all
managed to make a huge impact on the world of Accompanying the Secondary Magazine are the
activity. The system contains a built-in
mathematics. There is now a Crater on the moon and new fortnightly Up2d8 Maths teaching resources,
communications centre with varying
a street in Paris named after Galois. which explore a range of mathematical themes in a
During his short lifetime, Galois made some topical context.
elements that can be selected depending
significant contributions to group theory. His theory They comprise a colourful PowerPoint, with lots of
on the needs of the school. answered a question that mathematicians had been images and thought-provoking problems and questions,
Schools wishing to see Rafi.ki in action
pondering for a while, determining when an algebraic accompanied by a set of teacher notes, offering
schools
can meet the team at the BETT Show,
equation can be solved by radicals. suggestions on how to use Up2d8 Maths in practice.
which runs in London from January 14
That means that when we can find the solutions The resources, which also include student
for a polynomial with rational co-efficients using worksheets, are not intended to be a set of instructions,
to 17. Schools that sign up to silver
only rational numbers and the operations of addition, but rather a framework which you can personalise to
membership at the show will be entered subtraction, multiplication and division and finding nth fit your classroom and your learners.
into a free prize draw to win annual gold
roots, we say that the equation is soluble by radicals.
membership. Visitors can also witness a
Galois found out that if the highest power in the • Mark McCourt is an assistant director at the National
video-conference between a partnered
equation is less than five, then the equation could be Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics,
solved using radicals, but there are equations where with particular responsibility for secondary schools.
UK and overseas school, during which
the highest power is five or higher that cannot be The Centre is funded by the Department for Children,
Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby recently students and teachers will discuss a range solved using radicals. Schools and Families to enhance mathematics teaching
undertook a project through Rafi.ki, in conjunction
of topical issues.
You can also use Galois theory to prove that it is and learning in schools and colleges.
with Plan International, which addressed the problem impossible to trisect an angle using only a ruler and
of modern day slavery. compass. If you are interested in reading more about
Further information
One of the students involved in that project was “Using Rafi.ki we had the chance to find out if other this then you can read an article on the Nrich website. • For more on Galois: http://Nrich.maths.
deeply touched by the experience. people around the world had any views on slavery or had org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=1422
They said: “If I’d read about this in a book I’d have been affected by it. It was like a huge conference. Now
An idea for the classroom
• For the Durham Mysteries: www.durhamlea.
thought that’s just history and nothing to do with me. If I know that it’s true and that together people around the Why not put a little mystery into mathematics with org.uk/resources
I’d read about it in the newspaper as happening now, world must stop it. I won’t forget that.” SecEd the Maths Mysteries downloads from the Durham • NCETM Secondary Magazine: www.ncetm.org.
I’d think that they had made it up to sell more papers. local authority website? uk/secondarymagazine
Either way I would forget about it quickly. • Henry Warren is the CEO of Rafi.ki. Visit www.rafi.ki
advertising feature
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Many of these will feature high-profile central to the agenda – like how to help pupils stay want to see. we believe we offer a free day out that is both
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ED SHOW.indd 6 9/12/08 10:34:16
SecEd • December 11 2008 19
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