DESIGNING A WATER TANK

2 metres

2 met

A square metal sheet (2 metres by 2 metres) is to be made into an open-topped

water tank by cutting squares from the four corners of the sheet, and bending the
four remaining rectangular pieces up. to form the sides of the tank. These edges
will then be welded together.

* How will the final volume of the tank depend upon the size of the squares cut
from the corners?
Describe your answer by:
a) Sketching a rough graph
b) Explaining the shape of your graph in words
c) Trying to find an algebraic formula
* How large should the four corners he cut. %O that the resulting volume of the
tank is as large as possible?

Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham. 1985.

Ic ~‘I
 DESIGNING A WATER TANK... SOME HINTS

Imagine cutting very small squares from the corners of the metal sheet. In
your mind. fold the sheet up. Will the resulting volume be large or small?
Why?
Now imagine cutting out larger and larger squares.
What are the largest squares you can cut? What will the resulting volume be?

Sketch a rough graph to describe sour thoughts and explain it fully in words
untie r neat h:

Volume of
the
tank (m’)

Length of the sides of the squares (m).

* In order to find a formula, imagine cutting a square x metres by x metres

from each corner of the sheet. Find an expression for the resulting volume.
* Now try plotting an accurate graph.
(A suitable scale is 1 cm represents 0.1 metres on the horizontal axis, and
1 cm represents 0.1 cubic metres on the vertical axis).
How good was your sketch?
* Use your graph to find out how large the four corner squares should be cut,
so that the resulting volume is maximised.

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

 THE POINT 01” NO RETURN

Imagine that you are the pilot of the light aireralt in the picture. which is capable
of cruising at a stead~ speed of 3(M) km h in still air. N ou hate enough fuel on
hoard to last four hours.

‘You take oil Irom the airtield and. on the out~~ard journe\ are helped along h~
.

aSS km h ~ md ~ hich increases sour cruising speed relati~e to the ground to 350
km h.

Suddenly you realise that on sour return ourne~ ~ou ~ ill he flying into the ~ md
and ~ ill therefore slots down to 250 km h.

What is the maximum distance that ~ou can travel from the airfield, and still
he sure that ~ou hate enough fuel left to make a safe return journeY?

In’. estigate these ‘pornts of no return’ br different wind speeds.

©SheIl Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

A’~7 ‘ICfl’
 THE POINT OF NO RETURN... SOME HINTS

* Draw a graph to show how your distance from the airfield will vary with time.
How can you show an outward speed of 350 km h?
How can you show a return speed of 250 km h?

800-

700—

~ 600- ::::

400-
S
2 300— :::: : :: : : :
U
200- : : ::::. : :::: :::::

1(X)-

0 [ 2 3 4
Time (hours)

Use your graph to find the maximum distance you can travel from the
airheld. and the time at which you should turn round.

On the same graph. investigaw the ~points of no return’ for different wind
speeds. What kind of pattern do these points make on the graph paper?
Can you explain why?

Suppose the windspeed is w km/h.

the point of no return’ is ci km from the airfield
and the time at which you should turn round is thours.

Write down two expressions br the outward speed of the aircraft.

one involving wand one involving d and!.
Write down two expressions for the homeward speed of the aircraft,
one involving wand one involvingdand t.

Try to express d in terms of only t. by eliminating it’ from the two resulting
equations.
Does this explain the pattern made by your points of no return’?

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

AQ (lcfl
 “WARMSNUG DOUBLE GLAZING”

(The ~ indows on this sheet are all

drawn to scale: I cm represents I loot).

How have “Warmsnug” arrived at

the prices shown on these windows?

Which window has been given

an incorrect price? How much
should it cost?

Explain your reasoning clearly.

©SheIl Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

49 (154’
 “WARMSNUG” DOUBLE GLAZING... SOME HINTS

* Write down a list of factors which may affect the price that “Warmsnug” ask
for any particular window:

e.g. Perimeter,
Area of glass needed,

* Using your list, examine the pictures of the ~‘indows in a systematic manner.

* Draw up a table, showing all the data which you think may be relevant.
(Can you share this work out among other members of your group?)
* Which factors or combinations of factors is the most important in
determining the price?

Draw scattergraphs to test your ideas. For example, if you think that the
perimeter is the most important factor, you could draw a graph showing:

Cost
of
window

Perimeter of window

* Does your graph confirm your ideas? If not, you may have to look at some
other factors.
* Try to find a point which does not follow the general trend on your graph.
Has this window been incorrectly priced?
* Try to find a formula which fits your graph, and which can be used to predict
the price of any window from its dimensions.

CShelI Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

Sn (1SS~
 PRODUCING A MAGAZINE

A group of bored, penniless teenagers want to make some mone~ hy producing

and selling their own home-made magazine. A sympathetic teacher offers to
suppl~ duplicating facilities and paper free of charge. at least for the first fe~
issues
I a) Make a list of all the important decisions they must make.
Here are three to start you oft

How long should the magazine he? (1 pages)

How many writers will be needed’! (w writers)
How long will it take to write? (r hours,

h) Many items in your list will depend on other items.

For example, 1’
I
For a fixed number of people involved. z
the longer the magazine, the longer -c
it will take to write. _____________

I pages
For a fixed length of magazine.
z
the more writers there are, .
z
-C
Complete the statement, and sketch a graph
to illustrate it.
w writers
Write down other relationships you can find.
and sketch graphs in each case.

2 The group eventually decides to find out how many potential customers
there are within the school, by producing a sample magazine and conducting
a survey of 100 pupils. asking them “Up to how much would you be prepared
to pay for this magazine?” Their data is shown below:

Selling price (s pence) Nothing 10 20 30 40

[~Nmb~ prepared to pay this price (n people) 100 82 58 30 18

How much should they sell the magazine for in order to maximise their
profit?

3 After a few issues, the teacher decides that he will have to charge the pupils
lOp per magazine for paper and duplicating

How much should they sell the magazine for now?

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

51(158)
 PRODUCING A MAGAZINE... SOME HINTS

Here is a more complete list of the important factors that must be taken into
account:
Who is the magazine for? (schoolfriends?)
What should it be about? (news, sport. puzzles. jokes.
How long should it be? (1 pages)
How many writers will it need? (w writers)
How long will it take to write’? (t hours)
How many people will buy it? (ii people)
What should we fix the selling
price at? (s pence)
How much profit will we make
altogether? (p pence)
How much should we spend on
advertising? (a pence)

* Can you think of any important factors that are still missing?
* Sketch graphs to show how: tdepends on w; w depends on 1;
n depends on s; p depends on s: n depends on a.
* Explain the shape of each of your graphs in words.

2 * Draw a graph of the information given in the table of data.

* Explain the shape of the graph.
* What kind of relationship is this?
(Can you find an approximate formula which relates n to s?)
* From this data, draw up a table of values and a graph to show how the
profit (p pence) depends on the selling price (s pence).
(Can you find a formula which relates p and s?)
* Use your graph to find the selling price which maximises the profit made.

3 Each magazine costs lOp to produce.

* Suppose we fix the selling price at 20p.
How many people will buy the magazine? How much money will be
raised by selling the magazine, (the tevenue’)? How much will these
magazines cost to produce? How much actual profit will therefore be
made?
* Draw up a table of data which shows how the revenue, production costs
and profit all vary with the selling price of the magazine.
* Draw a graph from your table and use it to decide on the best selling price
for the magazine.

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

52(159)
 THE FFESTINIOG RAILWAY
a
This railway line is one of the most famous in Wales.
Your task will be to devise a workable timetable for
running this line during the peak tourist season.

The follo~ ing facts will need to be taken into account:— ‘4

Ta,IsIa~_/rN.%, Iae n a u
There are 6 main stations along the 13’ 2 mile track:
(The distances between them are shown in miles) Ffestiniog

Tan-v-Bw~ch
Port h~~og ~ &~~i
Minffordd

Three steam trains are to operate a shuttle service. This means that they will
travel back and forth along the line From Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog with
a ID-minute stop at each end. (This should provide enough time for drivers to
change etc.)

The three trains must start and finish each day at Porthmadog.

The line is single-track. This means that trains cannot pass each other, except at
specially designed passing places. (You will need to say where these will be
needed. You should try to use as few passing places as possible.)

Trains should depart from stations at regular intervals if possible.

The journey from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog is 65 minutes (including

stops at intermediate stations. These stops are very short and may be neglected in
the timetabling).

The first train of the day will leave Porthmadog at 9.00 a.m.

The last train must return to Porthmadog by 5.00 p.m. (These times are more
restricted than Those that do. in fact, operate.)

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

5~ (164~
 THE “FFESTINIOG RAILWAY” ... SOME HINTS

Use a copy of the graph paper provided to draw a distance-time graph tor the
9.00 am. train leaving Porthmadog.
Try to show, accurately:

• The outward journey from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

• The waiting time at Blaenau Efestiniog.
• The return journey from Blaenau Fiestiniog to Porthmadog.
• The waiting time at Porthmadog . and so on.
. .

What is the interval between departure times from Porthmadog tiw the above
train?
How can we space the two other trains regularly between these departure times?
Draw similar graphs for the other two trains.
How many passing places are needed? Where will these have to he?
From your graph. complete the following timetable:

Station Daily Timetable

Porthmadog d 09(k)

Minffordd d
4 Penrhyn d
Tan-y-Bwlch d
Tanygrisiau d
Blaenau Flestiniog a
Blaenau Flestiniog ci
Tanygrisiau d
Tan-y-Bwlch d
Penrhyn ci
Minffordd d
Porthmadog a

Ask your teacher for a copy of the real timetable, and write about how it
compares with your own.

©SheIl Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

54(165)
 (sainu) ~opewquo~ wosj aounls!Q

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

55 (166)
 Rheilttordd Railway Rheilltordd Rairway

tiestinlo
Rhe;I(fo,dd ~_ Railway Rheilf toyed ~, Railway
festinlo
Rtre,ttto’dd Railway Rheilttordd Railway

MOUNTAINS, LAKES AND COASTLINE

Take the lamous Ffesliniog Railway for a memorable journey through the
p
Snowdonia National Park. From the coast at Porthmadog the little train
climbs through tranquil pastures and magnificent forests, past lakes and
waterfalls round horseshoe bends and even a complete spiral, sometimes
clinging to the side of the mountain and sometimes tun~elling under it.
Porthmadog to
Much of the area is so remote that there are not even x.iy motor roads and
the train stops occasionally at isolatedcottagesve.ose Inhabitantsdapend
entirely on the railway 13i4 miles and o’., hours journey time from
Porthmadog is Blaenau Ftestiniog. over 7)0 feet above sea level, Here are
Biaenau Ffestiniog
the slate mines at Ltechwedd and Gloddfa Ganol which are both open to
visilors
—
To cater for all your requirements there are gilt shops at Porthmadog.
Tan-y’Bwlch and Biaenau Ffestiniog a sell-service restaurant at
Porthmadog and station buffets at Tan-y-Bwlch and Bfaenau Ffestiniog
Time Table 1985
So sit back, relax and take the journey of a lifetime Let our stewards wait
— on you with snacksand drinksfrom thebufletcarorminibarfrolley For the
enthusiast, there’s even more many of the trains are pulled by unique
and historic steam locomotives some of which have served the line for over
a hundred years
MORE MILES FOR YOUR MONEY
CHILDREN FREE
Your complete day out... rHiRD CLASS ir mt yaw a,aiiabi eat One fta4czea9err (ada ~6)
Suppiemenraty cr.argef
SPECIAL INCLUSIVE EXCURSIONS Pruncupal Fares
lavaulabil, in vutrier direclioii ORDINARY ORDINARY ECONOMY*
FROM PORTHMADOG SINGLE RETuRN RItuRN Czaucü jza jet each adalt
Porihmadog to Biaenau Fteautniog £2.00 £5.50 £4.50
STWLAN DAM (Daily 26 May to 13 September)
Depart Porfhmadog by mosi “daytime” trains (see ilmetablel for bus
Porthmadog
T.n’y’ Bwicit
to Tan’t’ Owlch
10 Bl.enau Flestlniog
£1.70
£1.70
£3.40
£3.40
ftae~ au Std e&zaa jaa
connection from Tanygrisiau This is one of the most spectacular ‘bus Porthmadog to Penrhyn
routes in Britain. ascending 10 a height of 1650 teei The bus returns 10 lop £1.00
Tanygrisiau station trom where you may return to Porthmadog or. 1 you so * ti’a,reiout by drebei seituci’ Showit Discs on tumsiabit, tSer~itit fly ANY ti’’
wish. conlinue your rail journey to Blaenau Flesiiniog at no extra charge
Allow 2i1, hours for the complete excursion 1 returning direci Irom Reductions for Children and Senior Citizens as follows;
l’anygrisiau or 3 hours 20 minuies if retorning via Blaenau Ffesiiniog Children under S free ONE CHILD UNDER IS TRAVELS FREE IN THIRD
CLASS FOR EACH ADULT PAYING THIRD CLASS ORDINARY OR
LLECHWEDD CAVERNS (Monday to Saturday 30 March to 2 November. ECONOMY FARES Additional children aged Sand under 16 travel ai trait
also Sundays 26 May lo 6 September) fare
Depart Porthmadog by any train up to 1220 1310 when operatrngf Senior Citizens travel at halt fare on return lares only
Transfer to bus at Blaenau Flestiniog for shori trip across iown tu
— Llechwecld Caverns Then take either the battery electric train or ihe den, PLEASE NOTE FREE CHILD FACILITY
nine incline into theheart of a Victorian slafe mine Ailowal least S hoursiu
do lustice 10 the cornpleie excursion Family Fares up to 22% cheaper than three years ago!
Fares co.,ectai i.e oiyu..rq t,t,’.ussi,r,tI.,u:uh’tuaii,’, . it,,uui
FFESTINIOG LINK TOURS (Monday 10 Friday 27 May10 13 Sepiember)
The new point Flestirriog Btitish Rail station in Blaenau Flestinioq has
enabled us to provide easy rail accessto the Conwy Valley arid North Wales Drd you know
Coast Inc journey Irom Porihmadog 1° IlanoLidno oilers 44 miles 01 That the Flestrosoy Railway lids a supporters 011Th
$pecraciji;Ir niouritriin rind coastal scenery Depart Portrirnanog cr0950 for
0540 when opetatingf for itlis highlight ol yourhoiiday A shorier veisiori of The FESTINIOG RAILWAY SOCIETY
tn.s Ic Ut trot); Pot tiiniadog 10 Betws’y-Coed oi Llaniwsi ‘a also available is a voIunlaryorganisation deutcated tostipportirig lb I d
existence of the Flestiniog Railway

GLODDFA GANOL Slate
dur’i.q lit.’ 19S5 season try
tclt.rrr Fiostti,i ug tickt’i
cxli 109 A bus soviet;
sat ni, mu 3 o iris (“i to;
J
Mine. Free admission will oe ‘jrariied
any child whose patent produces kill
bt’tweoti Porlhr.iadog and Bidotiami You caii1ouriaionr,ui me Rauiw.iy Satiops mit s,’i OLfrfli iui
ope rite S heiween Bi;iena., F test iii iOtl tho;iqeot SI to tie Kloititit’rstiil) S.’trt’i;ruv J t.i,iti ty ‘1K ire Sitter
Wiumctii;stei Hauls 502.1 901) IM.’ntl Cr’ ‘‘,‘ice’ int’l Iii ‘II’ arid
I y i ti;iiJa hut’

~a ~r’i~t g~~ai .6~eeic ‘tzains ct (Vain

if yuti would lilt’ hurt iii ri ifuiirr.i t it
Suctc’t’,’,tsk ‘di its.’ bookitiy cnits iii
Fesri,I,og Railway Sr,cioiy
irs its.’
ibm
I
111,1 in I •
ily r ihi’t,it it
ri,
.4
lw.Iy• ‘ii
ii U.

3, iV4NI) “t It Ir(’yj
t_i,lE,’el;i ‘iiI I. ‘si/s. it iii tt:iyl’ I, i wry it iht, ta iti.ruitti Ffestiniog Railway. Porlhmadog. Gwynedd S ,~

n:r,Srirt’iC., ~‘sir.:~’,tY r .is...LVN ru5 L5’IAY ‘AlL (I’ tfflt’if)ist Telephone No’ (0766) 2340/2364 ci
t,Ali.VmAY if’iit~%t ‘5’ ~•/‘%/ WL1. ‘i~OO’ ‘5NL I SNI Still i(unii
A’? ,“ai’r ~l r lei . ‘MI Se ‘Vt I )f ft fIGi I. ANt) PAIL WA
Meitibet 1 ott T A I Noult Wt • _). - .- —
II iCrlrl F’i’fi S ‘i’! S P,;i,i,v.t,,’tl
‘ti’’ l’”r,,,1eJ ‘ann jul.’’ iF 76 ‘ri it’d ii,tuii’,ii;v i Sri)’ “‘. “~1
.4.
 Monday 15 July to FrIday 30 August
HIGH (Also Spring HolIday Week Sunday 26 May to Thursday 30 May)
SUMMEN
MONDAYS TO THURSDAYS FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS
Porthmadog d. 0840 0950 1035 1125 1220 1310 1400 1455 1545 1635 ~it 0950 II’$IS 1125 1220 11(11111400 1455 1635
PwOln90 0 0753 0530 ‘935 400 7000 1640 07559 0939 “35
004
~ZD
lei.Oro,08
-3 I
~
0909
0055
0210
‘55
433
9543
530 770 0426e
0677
059
0955 - 7755,, 0247.0
400
343
bOO

1040 217 0422 1404 ‘434 9020

090? 7040 ‘137,, 1325s4 412 9409
Mlnftordd d. i:.’ 0959 1044 134 1229 1319 1409 1504 1554 1644 ‘i’ 0959 I’’ 1134 1229 1409 1504
Penrhyn d. 1644
- 1005 1050 1140 1235 1325 1415 1510 1600 1650 1005 t I 1140 1235 1415 1510
Tan-y-Bwlch d. 1650
• 1025 1112 1205 1255 1345 1435 1530 1620 1710 1025 1205 1255 1435 1530
Tanygrisiau d. 1710
1043 1135 1223 1313 1407 1458 1548 1641 1728 1043 1223 1313 ‘ 1458 1548
SI. Ffestiniog a. 1728
I’’’ 1055 1146 1233 1325 1417 1507 1600 1652 1740 1055 1233 1325 1507 1600
elFt..?0&.g 0
1740
0945 05 330 450 615 0746 2020 105,0
- “ L0II?0~dv0 JO~ 042 1204 1019540
1330 0450 l625 ‘749
7710 ‘445 2?!? 200’o 43? ‘546
- L I’OkOOO I 0055 ‘211 ‘44l 7550 71,16 1724 9445
lt03 2117 02l4’ 1441 556 -~ ‘734 990
— andudac 4 0430 0950 110 7132 7450
Llsndi,0,0 SC, I 0840 ‘006
630 jul ~ 09500 jOo — ISis ‘450 7930
1121 343 ,00l 640 003
97 70.09.159 0940 ~ 00 224 09407000’ 7??? ‘343 170? 7647
‘445 009 ‘74? 903 09400,00. 224 445 609 ‘76?

SI. Flestiniog d. I 1105 1155 1245 1340 1430 1520 1615 1700 1746 1105 1245 1340 ‘N’11520 1615 1746
Tanygrisiau d. I 1111 1201 1251 1346 1436 1526 1621 1706 1752 I 1111 1251 1346 +111526
I 1621 1752
Tan-y-Bwlch d. •‘ 1133 1225 1315 1405 1500 1550 1640 1730 1814 I’ 1133 1315 1405 jijiliSso 1640 1814
Penrhyn d. I 1149 1245 1335 1424 1520 1606 1659 1746 1830 I 1149 1335 1424 tt11606 1659 1830
Mlntlordd d. 1154 1250 1340 1429 1525 1611 1706 1751 1835 a’ 1154 1340 1429 t.441611
I 1706 1835
40,60,00 0 7205 ‘433 530 0210 ‘955
9i,,.outh 205 ‘433 530 9790 ‘955
246 574 676 ‘7,, 2036
04i,tl0,00 U 7127 75,4 616 ‘759 2036
T600~ 7934 2332~ 713 70 3255 411
p—Os— 203 9450 0533 0608— — ‘434 5272
1901 2239 7303’ 73535 1450 7633 940? 2130

Porthmadog a. 1209 1304 1354 1444 1539 1629 1719 1805 1848~ 1209 IICIl~I1354 144411*111625 1719 1848
Oaily
I DAILY Saturday 31 August to Sunday 15 September 26 Dec 10
I Jan
Monday 16 Sept. Sats & Suns
15 Feb 1966 to
MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS SATS. & SUNS. to Sunday 3 Nov. 23 March 116$
Porthmadog d.0950l11fl11125 1220 ll’11111400 1455 1635 0950 1220 1455 0950 1220 NOTES ON BRITISH RAIL
‘ PwIlhst 4 0755 0938 1135 500 0434 ‘‘35 o,o4 0 SSq 7? CONNECTING SERVICES
‘ ‘ 4 6416000,00 4 0915 004 205 530 0977 1205 7433 092 205 0939 7735
7009 7205
.. -. 4961106041 4. 0977 0655 343 520 047? 0655 1343 09?? 0955 343 0955
untIl 12 May
—
7343
‘ ~!~9≤~ 4., 0909 1040 422 606 090? 040 7412 0907 1040 422 7040 411
from IS May
9 Saturdays II May 10
—
Minttordd d. 0959 I’’ 11341229 fl1409 1504 1644 0959 1229 1504 0959 1229 •4 24 September. retlmed lo
PwIIheIi dsp. 9438.
Penrhyn d. 1005 I ‘11401235 +11415 1510 1650 1005 1235 1510 1005 1235 I I Mlnflordd an’, 0911
Tan-y-Bwlch d. 1025 1205 1255 ‘M1435 1530 1710 1025 1255 1530 1025 1255 i I
FO — Friday. only
SO Saturdays only
Tanygrisiau d. 1043 12231313 ‘1)41458 1548 1728 1043 1313 1548 RQ RO .. .5 .5 Britith Rail s.rvIcea may be
SI. Ftestiniog subiect to alierallon at Bank
a. 1055 ‘a 1233 1325 fr11507 1600 1740 1055 1325 1600 1055 1325 II, • Ii’ Holiday period..
60 4 ‘‘05 7330 450 7920 749 ‘330 010 7330 7925 330 625 NOTES ON FFESTIN100
LI,,4.4,o 57.4 a 9204 0439 9548 7716 445 9439 726 ‘43? 7729 439 9725
c-::—
%5•’-25.
~‘‘°~‘~‘~
0950 7790
744? 9558 7734 603 044? 1440 77 44’ 97 RAILWAY SERVICES
.9909068490 0333 450 630 0930 0700 0630 0630 SIlo 7450 “‘0 ‘450 denotes DIESEL HAULED
L04,t490ao JO” 0
9? Ff9eiOnOcy 9
4000
9100
III?
114
7343
0445
7507
609
647
974?
5540
0940
‘Ifl
7214
056?
1409
0640
0940
I 72?
1324
7507
909
9129
524
050?
g~g flftj FARES AVAILABLE.
‘ECONOMY’
TRAINS —

SI. Flestinlog d. 1105 [11 1245 1340 fli~ii 615 1746 1105 1340 1615 1105 1340 . I • .waConald.rabla reductIon.
U~I for passengera comman.
Tanygrlsiau d. 1111 .{ifl1251 1346 . 1526 1621 1752 1111 1346 1621 RO RO - • • S cing a FULL RETURN
Tan-y-Bwlch d. 1133 1*11315 1405 ‘.1550 1640 1814 1133 1405 1640 1133 1405 .‘ I I 1
JOURNEY by such trains.
The raturn lournay may
Penrhyn d. 1149 4~fl1335 1424 I 1606 1659 1830 1149 1424 1659 1149 1424 • . bemadebyanynln.
Mlnffordd d. 1154 .M’1134Q 1429 1611 1706 1835 1154 1429 1704 1154 1429 1’ • 1’
All other cervIces ar.
normaIIysteamhauIe~
‘‘a- 747.1000,46 C lies 9530 7790 7955 1205 Isx ?7?9 305 7530 770 07 RD Stop. on request only.
9a,m~m 4- 7149 9616 7750 2033 7146 7676 7251 249 7679 757 ISiS 975? Paas.ngara wInIng to
9616100404 6. 9412 9608 7434 2112 7325 608 7636 452 609 ‘934 7412 7634 alIght should Inform the
I aOCf 79.6441.06 a - 7450 7533 7909 2130 353 633 790? 9450 933 9900 7460 4907 guard balora boarding.
Porthmadog a., 12091M.L11354 1444j~ii 1719 18481207 1442 17171201 1442 Paaaangare wining to
loin should giv, a tint
17<79.06
BLAENAU S’a,e handaignal to the drIver.
Snow,Icsrs a Na?onaI P.0k FFESTINIOG Ca.,, All trains other than the
I ±482 ~ I 4’,.. 0640 et. Porthmadog wilt
also call On request ci
f
,.

2’4~’ . ., ‘~,,A4O85 Boston Lodge. PIaa and

P6 en, eq Dduallt.
-7
I
-c.~r’eq
Every efforl possible will
be made to ansura
running as ilmetabla but
the Flestiniog Railway wilt
not guarantee advertised
connections nor the
TAN-Y-BWLCH advertised traction in the
eveni ol breakdown or
other obetructlon 00
services.

Special parties and po*ele charter

by arrangement.
Please apply to:
FFESTINIOG RAILWAY
HARBOUR STATION
Maentwroq PORTHUA000
GWYNEDD
Telephone
PORTHI6ADOG
(0755) 2340/2344
442Q
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FATHER CHRISTMAS

fes tinioci Trawstynydd

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44707’4±49 .1,61014 001teIla.
EXCURSIONS
A special seovice wIlt operate on
21 and 22 December. Deteile
available from I October.
Father Chrisinvas wIll meet the
traini and dIstrIbute presents to
the children,
by Narrow Gauge Train through the Mountains of Snowdonia All seats receivable — Advance
Booking Essential.
 CARBON DATING

Carbon dating is a technique for discovering

the age of an ancient object, (such as a bone
or a piece of furniture) by measuring the
amount of Carbon 14 that it contains.
While plants and animals are alive, their
Carbon 14 content remains constant, but when
they die it decreases to radioactive decay.
The amount, a, of Carbon 14 in an object
I thousand years after it dies is given by
the formula:

a = 15.3 x 0.8861

(The quantity “a” measures the rate of Carbon 14 atom disintegrations and this
is measured in “counts per minute per gram of carbon (cpm)”)

1 Imagine that you have two samples of wood. One was taken from a fresh tree
and the other was taken from a charcoal sample found at Stonehenge and is
4000 years old.
How much Carbon 14 does each sample contain? (Answer in cpm’s)
How long does it take for the amount of Carbon 14 in each sample to be
halved?
These two answers should be the same, (Why?) and this is called the half-life
of Carbon 14.

2 Charcoal from the famous Lascaux Cave in France gave a count of 2.34 cpm.
Estimate the date of formation of the charcoal and give a date to the
paintings found in the cave.

‘—‘if
3 Bones A and B are x andy thousand years old respectively. Bone A contains
three times as much Carbon 14 as boneR.
What can you say about x andy?

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

Co , I ~7fl’
 CARBON DATING... SOME HINTS

Using a calculator, draw a table of values and plot a graph to show how the
amount of Carbon 14 in an object varies with time.

r(1000’sofyears) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 17
a (c.p.m)

0.
0

0
V
-o
C
C

C
C
-oI..
Ct
U
C
C
z
C
S
1<

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Age of object (in 1000’s of years) I

Use your graph to read off answers to the questions.

©SheII Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

59 (171)
 DESIGNING A CAN

A cylindrical can, able to contain haifa litre of drink, is to be manufactured from

aluminium. The volume of the can must therefore be 500 cm3.
* Find the radius and height of the can which will use the least aluminium, and
therefore be the cheapest to manufacture. (i.e., find out how to minimise the
surface area of the can).
State clearly any assumptions you make.
* What shape is your can? Do you know of any cans that are made with this
shape? Can you think of any practical reasons why more cans are not this
shape?

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

60(174~
 DESIGNING A CAN... SOME HINTS

* You are told that the volume of the can must be 500 cm3.

If you made the can very tall, would it have to be narrow or wide? Why?
If you made the can very wide, would it have to be tall or short? Why?
Sketch a rough graph to describe how the height and radius of the can have to
be related to each other.

* Let the radius of the can be r cm, and the height be h cm.

Write down algebraic expressions which give

— the volume of the can
— the total surface area of the can, in terms of rand h.
(remember to include the two ends!).

* Using the fact that the volume of the can must be 500 cm3, you could
either: — try to find some possible pairs of values for rand h
(do this systematically if you can).
— for each of your pairs, find out the corresponding surface area.
or: — try to write one single expression for the surface area in terms of r,
by eliminating h from your equations.

* Now plot a graph to show how the surface area varies as r is increased, and
use your graph to find the value of r that minimises this surface area.

* Use your value of r to find the corresponding value of h. What do you notice
about your answers? What shape is the can?

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

61 (17S1
 MANUFACTURING A COMPUTER

Imagine that you are running a small business which assembles and sells t~w
kinds of computer: Model A and Model B (the cheaper version). You are onl~
able to manufacture up to 360 computers, of either type, in any given week.

The following table shows all the relevant data concerning the employees at
your company:

Job Title Number of people Job description Pay Hours

doing this job worked
Assembler 100 This job involves £100 36 hours
putting the computers per week per week
together

Inspector 4 This job involves £120 35 hours

testing and per week per week
correcting any
faults in the
computers before
they are sold

The next table shows all the relevant data concerning the manufacture of the
computers.
Model A - Model B
Total assembly time in man-hours 12 6
for each computer
Total inspection and correction time 10 30
in man-minutes for each computer
Component costs for each computer £80 £64
Selling price for each computer £120 £88

At the moment, you are manufacturing and selling 100 of Model A and 200
of Model B each week.

What profit are you making at the moment?

* How many of each computer should you make in order to improve this
worrying situation?
* Would it help if you were to make some employees redundant?

©Shell Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham. 1985.

c.~) (172\
 MANUFACTURING A COMPUTER... SOME HINTS

Suppose you manufacture 100 Model A’s and 200 Model B’s in one week:

How much do you pay in wages?

* How much do you pay for components?
* What is your weekly income?
* What profit do you make?

2 Now suppose that you manufacture x Model A and y Model B computers

each week.

* Write down 3 inequalities involvingx andy. These will include:

— considering the time it takes to assemble the computers, and the total
time that the assemblers have available.
— considering the time it takes to inspect and correct faults in the
computers, and the total time the inspectors have available.

Draw a graph and show the region satisfied by all 3 inequalities:

400

300
Number of
ModeIB
computers
manufactured 200
(y)

100~ .

0 100 200 300 •400

Number of Model A computers manufactured (x)

3 Work out an expression which tells you the profit made on x Model A and
y Model B computers.

4 Which points on your graph maximise your profit?

©Sheil Centre for Mathematical Education, University of Nottingham, 1985.

~2 (1~7fl\