SHERLOCK HOLMES MATHS COMPETITION – Episode 3 Solution…

Our congratulations to the Episode 3 winners of our Sherlock Holmes Maths Competition:

VIKY LAWSON & EMMA BRIGHTWELL FROM  GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLLEGE…

…for successfully working out where Holmes and Watson must go next.

AND THE ANSWER IS:

Out of the pan and into the fire. Holmes and Watson make it out of the tunnels OK, only to face their next Bonfire Night challenge... Click to download updated map.

…BOROUGH MARKET!

We’ll be sending the winners a free Sherlock Holmes DVD (the 2009 Guy Ritchie version) and a tin of Cadbury’s heroes.

OUT OF THE PAN AND INTO THE FIRE:

Discover what happens on Wednesday when Holmes and Watson arrive at Borough Market in Episode 4 to face a BONFIRE NIGHT challenge.

Here is the winning solution to Episode 3:

4 diamonds = 1684. To work out 1 diamond, 1684 / 4 = 421

Code 2403 is 3 diamonds and 2 circles. 3 diamonds = 421 x 3 = 1263

2403 – 1263 = 1140.

1140 = 2 circles. To work out 1 circle, 1140 / 2 = 570.

Code for hatch is 1 diamond and 3 circles = 421 + (570 x 3) = 2131

Therefore code for hatch is 2131.

To work out the route of the thief, the probability has been worked out for each potential route:

Fractions have been turned into decimals to make it easier:

Angel Islington – University College: 0.5 x 0.25 = 0.125

Angel Islington – British Museum = 0.5 x 0.05 = 0.025

Angel Islington – House of Lords = 0.5 x 0.7 x 0.07 = 0.024

Angel Islington – Imperial War Museum = 0.5 x 0.7 x 0.5 = 0.175

Angel Islington – Smithfield Meat Market = 0.1

Angel Islington – St Pauls Cathedral = 0.4 x 0.25 = 0.1

Angel Islington – Bank of England = 0.4 x 0.75 x 0.125 = 0.0375

Angel Islington – Borough Market = 0.4 x 0.75 x 0.625 = 0.1875

Angel Islington – Tower of London = 0.4 x 0.75 x 0.25 = 0.075

From this, the route with the most likely outcome is Angel Islington to Borough Market.

So the thief is at Borough Market.

Quick reminder…

Don’t forget our Halloween Maths Challenge remains open until this Sunday, 31st October.

Episode 3 of our Sherlock Holmes Maths competition: solve the mathematical clues and let us know where Holmes should go next to track down the thief of the world’s largest ruby!

Since many schools are on half-term this week, we actively encourage teachers to have a go on their own behalf – no need to enter on behalf of their class.  All details of the competition can be found here.

This episode’s winner will receive: a FREE Sherlock Holmes DVD (the 2009 Guy Ritchie movie) and a tin of Cadbury’s heroes.

Halloween Maths challenge! AQA Unit 1 Problem-solving for GCSE students

COMING TOMORROW: SHERLOCK HOLMES FACES A HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE IN HIS TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET…

Tune into the blog tomorrow, Wednesday 20th, to catch Episode 3 of Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Devil’s Eye.

We promise:

• Halloween maths
• AQA Unit 1 practice (basic number skills, codes, probability)
• AO3 problem-solving practice 

Help and support for all of the puzzles is referenced in our Longman AQA Maths Middle sets Student Book – and a single FREE copy is available to all of our blog subscribers.  Sign up to the blog with your school email address, and we’ll post one out to you!

SHERLOCK HOLMES MATHS COMPETITION – Episode 2 Solution…

Our congratulations to Episode 2’s winner of our Sherlock Holmes Maths Competition…

YEAR 9 SET 1 FROM CANON PALMER SCHOOL IN REDBRIDGE…

…for successfully working out where Holmes and Watson must go next.

AND THE ANSWER IS:

Wherever next for Holmes and Watson? Click to download updated map.

…ANGEL ISLINGTON!

We’ll be sending the winners a FREE Longman AQA Middle Sets ACTIVE-TEACH DVD – our popular and highly rated resource for electronic whiteboards – and a tin of Cadbury’s Heroes.

Here’s their answer:

Reading the clue the pupils worked out that they needed to draw on the NW line from the London Eye. They measured an angle of 45° from the North line going towards the west. From there they measured a bearing of 060° and drew on a line which took them to ANGEL ISLINGTON

DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WHEN HOLMES AND WATSON ARRIVE AT ANGEL ISLINGTON IN EPISODE 3:

NEXT WEDNESDAY, 20th OCTOBER.

We know that half-term may get in the way for some of you, so we’ll be extending the deadline for solutions until 31st OCTOBER, HALLOWEEN!

Without giving anything away, we can promise a heady mix of HALLOWEEN adventure and Unit 1 Maths in Episode 3.  What more could anyone want from a Maths challenge at this time of year?!

Remember: Maths teachers can join this competition at any time.  You can catch up on all the action in the earlier episodes on this dedicated page of our blog. 

If you’re not a subscriber to our blog, you’ll find it makes sense to sign up – subscribers receive every new post straight to their email (never more than 4 per week), including updates on this competition.  Just enter your school email address in the box top right of your screen – there’s no charge for this, and no spam. 

We’ll also post out a FREE copy of our AQA GCSE Middle Sets Student Book straight to your school.  Without giving too much away…  This book will be essential for solving clues in the later episodes of the competition!  Existing subscribers, who’ve not yet claimed their free copy, should leave a comment on this post, and we’ll send one out.