Paradox

Starter of The Day Transum Mathematics Topics

Topics: Starter | Logic | Mixed | Multiple Intelligences | Puzzles

Wikipedia,
A paradox is an apparently true statement or group of statements that leads to a contradiction or a situation which defies intuition.
Natalie, London
I am thankful for providing such wonderful starters. They are of immence help and the students enjoy them very much. These starters have saved my time and have made my lessons enjoyable.
Rhonda, Arizona
The answer states that multiplying by a negative whole number makes the answer negative. However, whole numbers cannot be negative by the definition of what whole numbers are. So that answer is true.
Wiliam, Lincoln
Number 5 is wrong since multiplying a value by 1 which is a whole number gives an answer the same value as before neither smaller or bigger.
Meilyr Wyn, Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones
Excellent Starter - Thank you very much
There has been some debate amongst the department about whether a square is a rectangle. A square is not a rectangle if the definition of a rectangle includes "top and bottom same length as each other, right and left same length as each other but different length to top".
The Best Maths Class Ever (7cd/m2), King Alfred's Oxfordshire
It was a silly starter but it made us all think! Students: We thought that it was not very logical because the statement was true and false at the same time. We found that when it was false it became true.
Tony Graham, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Sorry, Rhonda, it is possible to have a negative integer.
Nick Ball, Enoree, South Carolina
The definition we use in the USA for whole numbers are numbers 0 and greater. So you can't have a negative whole number. But the value you start with could be negative or a fraction...and one of our social studies teachers says that zero is a concept, not a number. So this was a dumb question.
Simon, Hampshire
Whole number means an integer (from the Latin 'integer'), so whole numbers can be negative. Natural numbers can only be positive - as to whether zero is a natural numbers depends on your view as a mathematician.
A rectangle is defined as a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides at right angles, so a square is a rectangle. Equally, a rectangle and a square are both parallelograms.
Chas, New York
The person who said that there is no such thing as a negative integer is dead wrong!
The answer key's reasoning for statement 5 is wrong, because there is no such thing as a negative whole number.
Statement 5 IS false though, because 0 is a whole number.
Grace Harrison, West Kirby Grammar
I loved this starter it really made me think and involved some good classroom discussions.
Thanks.
Kiwi, New Zealand
Here whole numbers cannot be negative, so multiplying by a negative integer would not be allowed. You are allowed to multiply by one, though, giving an equal but not larger answer so the statement is incorrect.
RB, UK
Multiplying by 1 would also be a counter example for question 5 - so even if you don't want to include 0 and negatives as 'whole numbers' the statement is still false. I hope no one will debate whether or not 1 is a 'whole number'!
Paula, Gillingham School
Unfortunately, the answer sections gives a different statement for number 5 in that the word 'negative' is missing in the question. Will try it on the kids anyway and see if they spot the mistake. Thanks.
Hannah, South Yorkshire
Enjoyable but Made my brain hurt! I loved this and would love to see more of these starters.
Dartmouth Academy 5/6P, Dartmouth
We're confused. If 5 is wrong then 1 is wrong and if 5 is correct then one is correct which makes it wrong.......Or does it????
Matthew Zhao, Year 7, Brisbane Boys' College, Toowong, Brisbane
It was an enjoyable paradox. Good trick!
Keep it up, Transum!
MrMiss, Essex
Not quite a paradox as multiplying by 1 doesn't make things bigger and the first square number is 0 so the first 10 add up to 285.
Par Radox,
I always tell lies.
St Mark's, Year 5
We would like a check button at the end please!

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Answers

Christmas Present Ideas

It is often very difficult choosing Christmas presents for family and friends but so here are some seasonal, mathematics-related gifts chosen and recommended by Transum Mathematics.

Equate board game

Here's a great board game that will give any family with school-aged kids hours of worthwhile fun. Christmas is a time for board games but this one will still be useful at any time of year. Games can be adapted to suit many levels of Mathematical ability.

For Maths tutors working with just one or small groups of pupils this game has proved to be an excellent activity for a tutorial. Deciding on the best moves can spark pertinent discussions about mathematical concepts.

Equate looks a bit like Scrabble--for aspiring mathematicians, that is. Designed by a real mathematician, it works like this: You put down tiles on a board and make points by correctly completing simple equations. Your nine tiles include both numbers and mathematical symbols; you can add on to previous plays both vertically and horizontally. more... #ad

How Not To Be Wrong

The maths we learn in school can seem like an abstract set of rules, laid down by the ancients and not to be questioned. In fact, Jordan Ellenberg shows us, maths touches on everything we do, and a little mathematical knowledge reveals the hidden structures that lie beneath the world's messy and chaotic surface. In How Not to be Wrong, Ellenberg explores the mathematician's method of analyzing life, from the everyday to the cosmic, showing us which numbers to defend, which ones to ignore, and when to change the equation entirely. Along the way, he explains calculus in a single page, describes Gödel's theorem using only one-syllable words, and reveals how early you actually need to get to the airport.

What more could the inquisitive adult want for Christmas? This book makes a cosy, interesting read in front of the fire on those cold winter evenings. more... #ad

Graphic Display Calculator

This handheld device and companion software are designed to generate opportunities for classroom exploration and to promote greater understanding of core concepts in the mathematics and science classroom. TI-Nspire technology has been developed through sound classroom research which shows that "linked multiple representation are crucial in development of conceptual understanding and it is feasible only through use of a technology such as TI-Nspire, which provides simultaneous, dynamically linked representations of graphs, equations, data, and verbal explanations, such that a change in one representation is immediately reflected in the others.

For the young people in your life it is a great investment. Bought as a Christmas present but useful for many years to come as the young person turns into an A-level candidate then works their way through university. more... #ad

Apple iPad Pro

The analytics show that more and more people are accessing Transum Mathematics via an iPad as it is so portable and responsive. The iPad has so many other uses in addition to solving Transum's puzzles and challenges and it would make an excellent gift for anyone.

The redesigned Retina display is as stunning to look at as it is to touch. It all comes with iOS, the world's most advanced mobile operating system. iPad Pro. Everything you want modern computing to be. more... #ad

Before giving an iPad as a Christmas gift you could add a link to iPad Maths to the home screen.

Craig Barton's Tips for Teachers

Teaching is complex. But there are simple ideas we can enact to help our teaching be more effective. This book contains over 400 such ideas." more... #ad

"The ideas come from two sources. First, from the wonderful guests on his Tips for Teachers podcast - education heavyweights such as Dylan Wiliam, Daisy Christodoulou and Tom Sherrington, as well as talented teachers who are not household names but have so much wisdom to share. Then there's what he has learned from working with amazing teachers and students in hundreds of schools around the world.

The Story Of Maths [DVD]

The films in this ambitious series offer clear, accessible explanations of important mathematical ideas but are also packed with engaging anecdotes, fascinating biographical details, and pivotal episodes in the lives of the great mathematicians. Engaging, enlightening and entertaining, the series gives viewers new and often surprising insights into the central importance of mathematics, establishing this discipline to be one of humanity s greatest cultural achievements. This DVD contains all four programmes from the BBC series.

Marcus du Sautoy's wonderful programmes make a perfect Christmas gift more... #ad

Christmas Maths

This book provides a wealth of fun activities with a Christmas theme. Each photocopiable worksheet is matched to the Numeracy Strategy and compatible with the Scottish 5-14 Guidelines. This series is designed for busy teachers in the late Autumn term who are desperate for materials that are relevant and interesting and that can be completed with minimun supervision.

All the activities are suitable for use by class teachers, supply teachers, SEN teachers and classroom assistants and cover topics such as 'How many partridges did the true love give all together?' and 'Filling a sleigh with presents by rolling a dice!'. Children will have lots of fun working through the Christmas Maths themes but also gain valuable skills along the way.

A great source of ideas and another reasonably priced stocking filler. more... #ad

A Compendium Of Mathematical Methods

How many different methods do you know to solve simultaneous equations? To multiply decimals? To find the nth term of a sequence?

A Compendium of Mathematical Methods brings together over one hundred different approaches from classrooms all over the world, giving curious mathematicians the opportunity to explore fascinating methods that they've never before encountered.

If you teach mathematics to any age group in any country, you are guaranteed to learn lots of new things from this delightful book. It will deepen your subject knowledge and enhance your teaching, whatever your existing level of expertise. It will inspire you to explore new approaches with your pupils and provide valuable guidance on explanations and misconceptions. more... #ad

Math with Bad Drawings

I had been tutoring the wonderful Betsy for five years. When the day came for our last ever session together before the end of her Year 13, I received this beautiful book as a gift of appreciation.

This a very readable book by Ben Orlin. I'm really enjoying the humour in the writing and the drawings are great.

Ben Orlin answers maths' three big questions: Why do I need to learn this? When am I ever going to use it? Why is it so hard? The answers come in various forms-cartoons, drawings, jokes, and the stories and insights of an empathetic teacher who believes that mathematics should belong to everyone. more... #ad

Click the images above to see all the details of these gift ideas and to buy them online.

Maths T-Shirts

Maths T-Shirts on Amazon

Your access to the majority of the Transum resources continues to be free but you can help support the continued growth of the website by doing your Amazon shopping using the links on this page. Below is an Amazon link. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases which helps pay for the upkeep of this website.

Educational Technology on Amazon

Teacher, do your students have access to computers such as tablets, iPads or Laptops? This page was really designed for projection on a whiteboard but if you really want the students to have access to it here is a concise URL for a version of this page without the comments:

Transum.org/go/?Start=May6

However it would be better to assign one of the student interactive activities below.

Laptops In Lessons

Here is the URL which will take them to a related student activity.

Transum.org/go/?to=paradox

Their are three mitsakes
in this message.

Visual Paradoxes

If you randomly select one of the possible answers to this multiple choice question what is the probability you are correct?

a) 20%

b) 40%

c) 60%

d) 20%

e) 0%

I ALWAYS
TELL LIES

In 1901, the British philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell uncovered a possible paradox that necessitated a modification to set theory. One version of Russell's Paradox involves a town with one male barber who, every day, shaves every man who doesn't shave himself, and no one else. Does the barber shave himself?

From The Math Book published by Sterling

Interesting number paradox

Did you know that all numbers are interesting?

Proof: Assume there exists a set of uninteresting numbers. This set would have a smallest number, which is interesting because it is the smallest uninteresting number. But a number cannot be both interesting and uninteresting, so the assumption that there exists a set of uninteresting numbers must be wrong and hence, all numbers must be interesting.