Views, opinions, impressions and statements are the personal expressions of Marten Gallagher, ATM Web Editor
and are not necessarily those of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics

Friday, January 8, 2010

Bad maths in the supermarket


Originally posted by nishwater on flickr with the following comment:

"At first glance you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is cheaper than the £23/kg parmesan sat next to it on the shelf "

What intrigues me is how the price per kilogram shown happened in the first place.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Fieldfares count Fibonacci

Two years ago it started with one fieldfare eating the apple windfalls outside my office.

It frequently had run-ins with a blackbird and so after a while it called in another fieldfare for support.

The blackbird was still hassling them however.

Next year a third fieldfare was called in and the blackbird responded by calling in some mates to help defend the winter food supply.

This year started with five fieldfares, and at the beginning of this recent cold snap there were a few more - three more in fact.

I am now looking out and can count exactly thirteen fieldfares engaged alternately in  feeding frenzy and bird wars with the increasing flock of blackbirds.

If I am not mistaken there should be 21 fieldfares tomorrow...

Has anyone got any spare windfalls?