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Comparing fuel consumption

Is it more fuel efficient to drive or fly between two places? Watch this clip and learn how to calculate the answer. What are the various factors that need to be taken into account? This video was made using the American measurement of gallons per hour, American firgures for the average number of passengers in a car and ...

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MathXplosion, Ep 5: Measure a tree without using a ladder

What do you do when you need to measure a length, height or distance but don't have a ruler or some other measuring instrument? You can compute linear measurements with surprising accuracy using indirect measurements, proportions and estimations. Learn a nifty trick to measure a tree from a distance.

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MathXplosion, Ep 2: Double that number

Explore an age-old multiplication method that repeatedly doubles numbers to get a product. Learn how this ancient method of multiplication is similar to that used by modern computers.

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My Five Cents: What is opportunity cost?

What is the true cost of buying something? Gen Fricker explains that it's more than just money. Learn about opportunity cost - what it is, why it's a helpful tool and when to use it. Simple! Then test yourself with ASIC MoneySmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.  

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Numbers Count: Adding two numbers

How many different ways can you think of to add two numbers to reach ten? Watch this video to learn them all!

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BTN: Leap second

We all know there are 60 seconds in a minute... or are there? Every few years an extra second is added to a day, and this is called a 'leap second'. Find out why we have leap seconds and why they mightn't be around for much longer.

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Catalyst: Probability and the gambler's fallacy

Mathematician Lily Serna visits Luna Park to explain a great probability pitfall. She shares a century-old tale from Monte Carlo casino, and then she puts its lesson to the test. If you flip a coin and it lands on heads three times in a row, what result would you predict for the next flip? Find out why intuition might land ...

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MathXplosion, Ep 6: Zero the hero

What is the role of zero as a placeholder for large numbers such as 1 million, 1 billion and 1 trillion? Find out about the notion of place value and powers of ten through the act of bead counting.

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Catalyst: Measuring our coastline

How long is the Australian coastline? See Dr Derek Muller and Simon Pampena discussing the perimeter of the Australian coastline. Find out how the accuracy of that measurement depends on the length of the 'measuring stick' used. They discuss how a coastline is much like a fractal such as 'Koch's Snowflake'!

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BTN: Calculating area using locust plagues

How many locusts in a plague? Find out just how big the threat of locusts can be and how farmers try to prevent the plagues from getting out of control. This clip provides context for a combination of area, area units and rate problems.

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Count Us In, Ep 14: How big is the magic bus?

How do we measure how big something is? Flynn and Dodley want to see who has the bigger toy bus. Which bus is taller, wider, longer? Flynn models how to measure his bus using sticks so he can make a garage for his 'magic' bus. The Flying girl and others also do some measuring.

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The amazing 'angle-a-tron'

Lost your protractor? Well, find out how to make an 'angle-a-tron'. This might just be the coolest mathematical tool you've ever used. Measure all sorts of angles. It's easy with an angle-a-tron!

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Count Us In, Ep 9: Using data about favourite foods

Flynn helps Dodly gather information about monsters' favourite foods for Dodly's new cafe menu. Watch and learn while the two monsters research their friends' favourite foods and then display and organise this information. Will Flynn ever get fed at Cafe de Dodly?

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Mixed Up Maths, Ep 6: Maths saves lives

Can maths really help to save lives? In this clip we see some real life applications of mathematics. Some are about helping to save lives others are about how maths can be useful. What do Florence Nightingale and WHO, the World Health Organisation have in common?

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Mixed Up Maths, Ep 9: The giraffe ate it

When something has no chance of happening we say its impossible. Sometimes the chance of something happening is unlikely. Listen to these excuses explaining why the host did not do his homework. Which of his excuses might the teacher think, the chance of this happening is ... 'possible'?

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BTN: Bank loans

When we need to buy a house we usually have to take out a loan from the bank. We have to pay back that loan with interest. A $350,000 loan can mean paying back $869,000! Listen to Nathan Bazley explain why a small change in interest rates can mean a big difference to the total amount you repay. This clip provides a context ...

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Fractions in the real world

How many quarters make up a whole? Watch this video to find out how else you can represent 2/4 and how to add up quarters to make a whole.

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ABC News: Mapping the sea floor

Hydrographers chart the seabed and coastline, giving ships a map to help them avoid running into underwater trouble. Use this clip as a context for exploring the mapping of the sea floor. Think about scale and how to indicate different depths using contour lines.

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Count Us In, Ep 4: Ordinal number: first through to sixth

Dodly and Flynn explore counting with ordinal numbers from first through to sixth. Investigate the order of ice-cream on an ice-cream cone, sheep being shorn and playing 'pass the parcel'. Where did the missing birthday cake go? Could it be the prize in pass the parcel?

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Count Us In, Ep 10: How long is a minute?

Dodly is getting ready for a very special occasion tomorrow. How will he fill in his time? How long does he have to wait? And what is his special occasion? With Dodly, Flynn and the Flying GIrl, investigate different ways of measuring time and discover how to read analogue and digital clocks.