Year 7 Maths Detectives Crack the Case of the Missing Golden Calculator
Year 7 students from Gordano School became detectives as they took part in the annual Maths Whodunnit House Competition. The legendary Golden Calculator had been "stolen" from the Maths department, and students had to work out which member of the Maths faculty had committed the crime!
Students solved a Maths puzzle each day, which eliminated one suspect from the case. By the final puzzle, they had enough information to find out "whodunnit" and make their accusations. Each puzzle required using different mathematical skills developed throughout the year, including percentages, fractions, algebra and number skills.
The final puzzle revealed Miss Coldwell to be the guilty party. When interviewed, she admitted "I thought I'd get away with it, but our students were just too good".
Each puzzle students solved earned them points towards the House Championship, and there were additional points for solving the entire case. The results (below) show a landslide victory for Biscay, who scored an outstanding 94 points across the week. The individual winners were Isla and Tiya, who both solved every puzzle correctly and provided fantastic workings.
| House | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Biscay | 94 | 1 |
| Cromarty | 27 | 4 |
| Fitzroy | 42 | 3 |
| Lundy | 46 | 2 |
| Portland | 21 | 5 |
| Shannon | 2 | 6 |
The competition produced a real buzz across the school, with students eagerly anticipating the next day's puzzle. Maths teachers were also keen to get involved, encouraging their classes to clear their name.
Miss Goodwin, Maths Excellence Co-ordinator, described the competition as a "fantastic opportunity for students to explore Maths beyond the classroom" and commended the enthusiasm of our students.
Congratulations to all our sleuthing mathematicians who took part and make sure to tune back in next year for the next Whodunnit instalment!
