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New Edexcel Functional Skills on-line practice tests

 exam practice, Functional Maths, Interactive White Board Tool, Level 1, Level 2  No Responses »
Feb 032014
 

Here are two more practice on-line tests. When you get to the end the computer will ask you to review your answers. Go back and ensure you have answered all the questions, shown all your working and not made any silly mistakes. If everything is ok click on continue. You may have to wait a while, but eventually the computer will ask you to save a pdf. Save it, then open it. The computer will have marked some questions for you but most have to be marked by a teacher. If you have a teacher, send them the pdf and they will mark it for you.

Level 1 On-line practice test

Level 2 On-line practice test

Roulette Simulator

 Data Handling, Fractions, Functional Maths, Games, GCSE Maths, Interactive White Board Tool, Level 1, Level 2, probability  No Responses »
Dec 032012
 

Here is a Roulette Simulator. It’s just as much fun as being in a casino, but it is completely free so you are not throwing away your money! Have a few goes and see how quickly you lose your money!

http://roulette-simulator.info/simulator/index.php?mode=simple&lang=en&sess=1354491584KU4ALN9E

Why does the bank always win? Probability shows us that the odds are stacked against the gambler.

Let me explain.  Say we place a bet of £1 on Number 24. Assuming the roulette wheel is fair, there is one chance in 37 of this happening, because there are 37 different numbers on the roulette wheel. If you win, the bank pays you 35 times your bet. So if we do this 37 times we would expect to win once. We would lose £37 in bets and win back £36, so overall we lose £1!

A similar thing happens if you bet on pair (even) or impair (odd). Zero does not count as odd or even. So the probability of getting an even number is 18/37. The probability of an odd number is also 18/37. If you win the bank pays you the same amount as your bet. So if we play 37 times, each time betting £1, we would only expect to win 18 times. We would bet £37 and win £18 x 2 =£36, losing £1 overall.

Casinos make massive profits as they are always bound to win in the long run. True, very occasionally someone strikes lucky and has a big win, but the casino knows the odds are stacked in their favour.

 

 

City and Guilds Level 1 Practice Papers

 exam practice, Functional Maths, Interactive White Board Tool, Level 1, Website  No Responses »
Nov 082012
 

Try these Level 1 Practice Papers from City and Guilds. First try the navigation test as this shows you how to use all the different functions that you will need. Then try an actual test.  Unfortunately it doesn’t mark it for you, so you will have to ask your teacher if you are getting them correct. You could print each page and get someone to check for you. Don’t forget it is vital to show all your working and justify your answers. Don’t worry about the “signing in” part- just leave everything blank and click “OK” and “confirm”. It is not always straightforward drawing the graphs and tables so it is vital you practice doing this before your actual exam.

High-Low predictions

 Adult Numeracy, Data Handling, Fractions, Functional Maths, Games, GCSE, GCSE Maths, Interactive White Board Tool, Level 2, probability, Website  No Responses »
Feb 112012
 

See how much money you can win on this addictive game! To calculate the probability each time work out first how many card are left and put this number on the bottom of the fraction. Then work out how many cards that haven’t been turned over yet are higher or lower than the last card. Put this number on the top.Sometimes you will be certain that the next card is higher or lower because all the cards that are higher have already been turned over. If you are certain then it is worth wagering all the money. If the probability is nearer to a half only gamble a small amount of money. This way you should soon become rich!