MATHS IN THE PAPERS
March 2003
March weather
The whole UK experienced mean temperatures well above average, with day times
exceptionally above average. Most places were also very dry and exceptionally
sunny.
Many stations broke their existing March sunshine records. The temperature at
Altanharra rose from -9°C to 18°C on the 17th, the greatest diurnal rise in
temperature for Scotland in March.
England and Wales Mean Temperature Series (series began in 1961). The initial mean value for the month was 7.2 °C, which is 2.0 °C above the 1961-90 average, which is in the exceptionally above average category.
England and Wales Rainfall Series (series began in 1961). The initial total for the month was 39.0 mm, which is 54 % of the 1961-90 average, which is in the well below average category.
England and Wales Sunshine Series (series began in 1961). The initial value for the month was 5.56 hours per day, which is 166 % of the 1961-90 average, which is in the exceptionally above average category. Sunniest in the series, previous highest 1995, when 5.04 hours per day was recorded.
Mar 2003 www.metoffice.gov.uk
Odd
numbers
Statistics
Spanish conquistadors estimated that 20,000 victims per year were sacrificed by the Aztec empire.
An estimated 100,000 Aztecs died in the 1520 siege and destruction of Tenochtitlan, their capital city.
2,700 people per day visit the Aztec exhibition at the Royal Academy in London.
21 Soviet and American astronauts and cosmonauts have died in the history of space exploration.
Observer Magazine 2/3/03
Nursery
Rhymes disappear
Education
According to a study by the Basic Skills Agency, half of all children starting school at four or five are unable to make themselves understood verbally, follow simple instructions, or count to five. Television and computer games are partly blamed for this, while the survey found that nursery rhymes, seen as important first step towards literacy and numeracy, are often not taught to young children. The survey was conducted among 700 head teachers and teachers. 90% of those surveyed stated that talking to babies and young children was absolutely essential to development of basic skills.
The Guardian 4/3/03
Survey of authors
Statistics
The Society of Authors is to publish results of a survey in its Spring newsletter. 954 authors, with 15,000 published books between them, were asked their opinions of publishers. Although 70% said they would recommend their publisher to other authors, horror stories abound in the survey. For example, a publisher who lost 100 illustrations and replaced them with another author’s already published pictures.
The Guardian 8/3/03
Change
in behaviour in schools
Education
A DfES survey carried out by Continental Research reveals that teachers' views of behaviour changed markedly over the course of last year.
At the beginning of the year teachers felt behaviour was worsening in the classroom, but by the end of the year only a fifth thought it was worsening, while a third thought it was getting better. Researchers looked at teachers' attitudes at the beginning, middle and end of 2002. The results show that at the start of the year a third of teachers felt behaviour was worsening and a only a fifth thought it was improving.
TES 7/3/03
The unhealthiest men in Britain
Health
Men’s Health magazine has looked at 20 measures of fitness which most interest young men, in the largest cities in the UK, in a survey which maps where the healthiest men in Britain live. While Leicester has the healthiest men, Liverpool, Glasgow and Stoke-on-Trent come at the bottom of the list. Stoke recorded the worst figures for heart disease with 33 deaths per 10,000 men and the poorest doctor/patient ratio at 49 per 100,000. Glasgow came top of the list with deaths from lung cancer, with 37.6 deaths per 10,000 men.
The Guardian 8/3/03
LSC
workplace survey
Finance
Up to 70,000 employers, nearly a fifth of the nation’s bosses, will be surveyed by the Learning and Skills Council to clarify training needs for future development of the workforce.
The Guardian 11/3/03
Odd
numbers
Statistics
The UK population is expected to rise by 7m by 2050.
72,144 people are currently held in UK jails.
8.75m people are currently held in jails worldwide.
Observer Magazine 16/3/03
More
on LSC survey
Finance
Three polling organisations will be taking on the job of surveying 70,000 employers for the LSC study on training needs. It is allegedly the largest study of its type that has ever been undertaken.
The
Guardian 18/3/03
Duke
of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Education
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, designed to offer challenges and adventures to 14-25 year-olds, was founded in 1956. At any one time approximately 225,000 young people are taking part in the scheme. About 2m hours of voluntary community work are undertaken by participants every year.
TES Teacher 21/3/03
Odd
numbers
Statistics
35% of 16-25 year-olds in the UK score below level 3 in literacy.
437 children are arrested in America every day on drink related charges.
7% of American high school students take a gun to school.
The Observer Magazine 23/3/03
March
Casualties in the war in Iraq
Statistics
British military casualties Source: MOD
British
personnel officially confirmed as dead: 22
British personnel officially confirmed as missing in action: none
British personnel officially confirmed as prisoners of war: none
March 21
Number
of casualties: 8
Circumstances: A US CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed.
Names released by MOD: none.
Names from unofficial sources: Sergeant John Cecil, Lieutenant Philip Green,
Captain Philip Guy.
March 22
Number
of casualties: 6
Circumstances: Two RAF Sea King helicopters collided.
Names released by MOD: Lieutenant Antony King RN, 849 Squadron A Flight, from
Helston, Cornwall, Lieutenant Philip West RN, 849 Squadron A Flight, from
Budock Water, Cornwall, Lieutenant James Williams RN, 849 Squadron A Flight,
from Falmouth, Cornwall.
March 23
Number
of casualties: 4
Circumstances: A RAF pilot and navigator were killed after their Tornado was
struck by a US patriot missile. Two Desert Rats were killed after their
military vehicle was attacked by Iraqi troops in southern Iraq.
Names released by MOD: Flight Lieutenant Kevin Barry Main, Pilot, 9 Squadron,
Flight Lieutenant David Rhys Williams, Navigator, 9 Squadron.
March 24
Number
of casualties: 2
Circumstances: Combat operations.
Names released by MOD: Lance Corporal Barry Stephen, from Perth, Sergeant
Steven Mark Roberts, of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, from Bradford in West
Yorkshire.
March 25
Number
of casualties: 2
Circumstances: "Friendly fire" attack on a Challenger tank.
Names released by MOD: Corporal Stephen John Allbutt, from Stoke-on-Trent,
Trooper David Jeffrey Clarke, from Littleworth, Staffordshire.
March 26
Number of casualties: No casualties confirmed.
March 27
Number of casualties: No casualties confirmed.
US military casualties Source: Pentagon
US
personnel officially confirmed as dead: 26
Number of US personnel officially confirmed as missing in action: 17
Master Sgt Robert J. Dowdy, 38, Pvt Ruben Estrella-Soto, 18, Spc James M.
Kiehl, 22, Pfc Jessica D. Lynch, 19, Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal
Mata, 35, Pfc Lori Ann Piestewa, 23, Pvt Brandon Ulysses Sloan, 19, Sgt Donald
Ralph Walters, 33, Sgt Bradley S. Korthaus, 28. Pfc Tamario D. Burkett, 21,
Lance Cpl Thomas A. Blair, 24, Cpl Kemaphoom A Chanawongse, 22, Lance Cpl
Donald J. Cline, Jr, 21, Pvt Jonathan L. Gifford, 20, Pvt Nolen R Hutchings,
19, Lance Cpl Patrick R Nixon, 21, Lance Cpl Michael J Williams, 31.
US personnel officially confirmed as prisoners of war: 7 Spc Edgar Adan Hernandez, 21, Spc Joseph Neal Hudson, 23, Spc Shoshana Nyree Johnson, 30, Pfc Patrick Wayne Miller, 23, Sgt James Joseph Riley, 31, Chief Warrant Officer David S. Williams, age unknown, Chief Warrant Officer Ronald D Young Jr, age unknown.
March 20
Number
of casualties: 4
Circumstances: A US CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed.
Names released by US department of defence: Maj Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, Capt Ryan
Anthony Beaupre, 30, Cpl Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, Staff Sgt Kendall Damon
Watersbey, 29.
March 21
Number
of casualties: 2
Circumstances: Combat operations.
Names released by US department of defence: 2nd Lt Therrel S Childers, 30,
Lance Cpl Jose Gutierrez, 22.
March 22
Number
of casualties: 2
Circumstances: One died when two RAF Sea King helicopters collided. One died in
a non-hostile vehicle accident.
Name released by US department of defence: Navy Lt Thomas Mullen Adams, 27,
Reserve Spc Brandon S Tobler, 19.
March 23
Number
of casualties: 12
Circumstances: Eleven US marines killed in an ambush at Nassiriya. A
disgruntled US soldier killed another US soldier in Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait
by throwing a grenade into his army barracks.
Names released by US department of defence: Lance Corporal Brian Rory Buesing,
20, Corporal Randal Kent Rosacker, 21, Sgt Michael E Bitz, 31, Lance Cpl David
K Fribley, 26, Cpl Jose A Garibay, 21, Cpl Jorge A Gonzalez, 20, Staff Sgt
Phillip A Jordan, 42, 2nd Lt Frederick E Pokorney Jr, 31, Lance Cpl Thomas J
Slocum, age unknown, Spc Jamaal R Addison, 22, Pfc Howard Johnson II, 21, Army
Capt Christopher Scott Seifert, 27.
March 24
Number
of casualties: 4
Circumstances: One Marine was killed by the accidental discharge of a .50 cal
machine gun in southern Iraq. One Soldier died in a non-hostile vehicle
accident. One Soldier was killed in military combat. One soldier was killed in
combat operations in the vicinity of the Saddam Canal.
Names released by US department of defence: Army Spc Gregory P. Sanders, 19,
Lance Cpl Eric J Orlowski, 26, Sgt Nicolas M Hodson, 22, Cpl. Evan T James, 20.
March 25
Number
of casualties: 2
Circumstances: One soldier died from wounds received by the grenade attack at
Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait, on March 22.
Names released by US department of defence: Maj Gregory Stone, 40, Hospital
Corpsman Third Class (Fleet Marine Force) Michael Vann Johnson, Jr, 25.
March 26
Number of casualties: No casualties confirmed.
March 27
Number of casualties: No casualties confirmed.
Reported incidents of Iraqi military casualties
Iraqi
military casualties: No reliable figures. Coalition estimates: None given
Iraqi civilians killed (Iraqi estimates): 350 Source: Iraqi health minister.
Iraqi prisoners of war held: US and UK forces hold more than 3,500 prisoners.
Source: Pentagon.
March 21
Reported
Iraqi casualties: British military claims six Iraqis killed in battles to
secure key installations on Iraq's Faw peninsula.
No official Iraqi response to these claims.
March 23
Reported
Iraqi casualties: US defence officials claim that 70 Iraqis were killed in a
battle south of Najaf.
No official Iraqi response to these claims.
Reported
Iraqi casualties: more than 60 Iraqi soldiers killed as soldiers and tanks of
British 7th Armoured Brigade fired on key battlegrounds of southern Iraq.
Source: Reuters.
No official Iraqi response to these claims.
March 24
Reported
Iraqi casualties: 30-plus Iraqis soldiers killed in bombing raid on their way
to reinforce the city of Nassiriya. Source: Reuters.
No official Iraqi response to these claims.
March 25
Reported
Iraqi casualties: US defence officials claim that between 150 and 500 Iraqis
were killed in a battle near Najaf.
No official Iraqi response to these claims.
Reported
Iraqi casualties: British officials claim their forces raided a suburb of Basra
and captured a senior leader of the ruling Ba'ath party and killed 20 of his
bodyguards
Iraqi response: The situation in Basra is stable. Resistance is continuing and
we are teaching them more lessons. Source: Iraq's information minister.
March 26
Reported
Iraqi casualties: Columns of Iraq's elite Republican Guard divisions and
paramilitary fighters moved south from Baghdad. US commanders responded by
ordering intense air strikes, which they said wiped out many of the convoys. No
specific estimate of Iraqi casualties. Source: Washington Post.
No official Iraqi response to these claims.
March 27
Reported Iraqi casualties: Iraqi troop positions south of Baghdad heavily bombarded. No specific estimate of Iraqi casualties given. Source: AP.
Iraqi response: The heavy bombing south of Baghdad has had no great effect. Iraqi troops are well protected in small foxholes and military losses have been minimal. Source: Iraqi defence minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad Jabburi Tai.
Reported Iraqi casualties: British forces engaged and destroyed 14 Iraqi tanks that tried to break out of the southern city of Basra. No specific estimate of Iraqi casualties was given. Source: British Military.
Iraqi response: No official response to these claims.
Journalist casualties
Confirmed journalist casualties: 2 Confirmed missing journalists: 2
March 22
Australian cameraman Paul Moran killed by a car bomb in northern Iraq. Kurdish officials blamed militant Islamic group Ansar al-Islam, which Washington has linked to al-Qaida. Source: Reuters.
March 22
Terry Lloyd, a senior journalist from the British Independent Television News (ITN), was killed after coming under coalition fire in southern Iraq. Source: ITN. French cameraman Fred Nerac and Lebanese producer Hussein Othman, who were members of Terry Lloyd's ITN crew, missing after the incident . Source: Reuters.
The Guardian 28/3/03
Idea
to boost basic skills for workers
Education
3.5 million people in the UK workforce are functionally illiterate. Digby Jones, director general of the CBI believes that the way to reach workers with basic skills needs is through ICT. Workers will come forward for training in information technology more readily than they will for help with language and numbers, and basic skills can be identified and addressed though this route.
TES 28/3/03
Odd
numbers
Statistics
George Mallory’s body was found 2000 feet from the summit of Everest 75 years after he disappeared on the mountain in 1924.
Approximately 1659 people have conquered Everest.
The average temperature on the summit of Everest in January is minus 36 degrees centigrade.
It takes 30 years for toilet paper to decompose at 13,000 feet.
100 kilograms per person in food, fuel and equipment need to be carried from base camp. Porters carry approximately 100 pounds per load.
The average wage for a porter in the Himalayas is £2 per day.
Observer Magazine 30/3/03
New
survey of GCSE students
Education
The latest survey by the National Union of Students among over 1000 GCSE students has revealed that, while the majority wanted to go to university, 75% would decide against going if their student debt was likely to exceed £10,000.
The Guardian 31/3/03