Big number masterclass for budding mathematicians

The University recently hosted a 'Big Number' masterclass for 40 budding young mathematicians from Dundee and the surrounding area.

Professor Mark Chaplain and Dr Fordyce Davidson challenged second and third year pupils to try out a number of mathematical challenges, with the emphasis on having fun with numbers.

This was one in a series of Saturday morning classes, each of which has been led by a distinguished mathematical practitioner, known for their ability to communicate their excitement and enthusiasm for maths.

The budding mathematicians have already calculated their chance of winning the National Lottery using number theory, looked at the mathematics behind computer games, planetary motion, and the sinking of the ship Titanic.

This is the first year that the Royal Institution Mathematics Masterclass Series has been organised for this age group in Tayside. The classes, organised by SETPOINT Scotland North, and co-sponsored by the Royal Institution and the University of Abertay Dundee, consist of a series of lectures and workshops designed to stimulate and encourage these mathematically promising students by introducing them to aspects of maths which are not usually found in the school curriculum or taught to this age group.