Digital Lights

A Maths Starter of The Day

                     

A calculator uses seven small lights (or LEDs) to form the digits 0 to 9.

1. Which light is used most?

2. Which light is used least?

3. Which letters of the alphabet could be represented using this system?

4. How many different combinations of 'on' and 'off' can these seven lights make?

 

 

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Keywords: Starter | Calculator | Investigations | Mixed

  • ijince, Guildford, England
  • Monday, August 20, 2007
  • "I have just discovered this website and it looks very useful. When school starts again I will probably use the Starter of the day as my home page but I would also like to pick starters appopriate to a topic. A dilema as I might run into the same one twice! Also, I know it sounds lazy but are the answers available somewhere?"
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  • Wednesday, August 22, 2007
  • "Thanks for your comments. Most starters have the answers included at the bottom of the page."
  • Mrs o'Hagan's 2nd yr class, Holyrood RC Sec, Glasgow
  • Thursday, June 19, 2008
  • "E. Top, top left,middle, bottom left and bottom! and we know there are lots more!!!"
  • Mrs Hamilton,
  • Friday, June 20, 2008
  • "Letters=A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,L,O,P,S & U"
  • Y7 Mr Heeley's Krew, Rawthorpe High, Huddersfield
  • Friday, July 04, 2008
  • "We enjoyed this starter, it stimulated our great minds and "lighted" up our day!
    We have also recently got hooked on Fast Factors. Mr Heeley aka MC Protractor currently holds all the records. Try and beat me everybody - bring it on!!
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  • Priory School form 8r2 , Shrewsbury
  • Friday, July 04, 2008
  • "We found Y can be done too."
  • Mr Peters, Uplands Junior School
  • Friday, July 04, 2008
  • "My year 4 top set made A B C D E F G H I J L N O P Q R S T U V Y and Z if you allow us a little imagination and some lower case letters"
  • Kate Alliston And 6A, Tyrrells Primary School
  • Thursday, October 08, 2009
  • "My class made W and M by turning the calculator on its side! Still stuck on K and X though."
  • Mr Pouney, The Vyne Community School
  • Wednesday, July 07, 2010
  • "My year 10s found :
    a b c d e f g h I j l n o p q r s t u y."

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Answers:

1. The lower right light is 'on' for 9 of the digits 0-9

2. The lower left light is only 'on' for 4 of the digits 0-9

3. Here's a start:

A could be represented with all lights on except for the bottom light;

B could be all lights on (same as the digit 8);

C could be top, upper left, lower left and bottom;

(If anyone manages to complete this list please share your answers here)

4. There are 27 or 128 different combinations.