SBA Ideas for you to experiment with

1. What is the optimum angle to throw a javelin/Shotput/Discus? General Idea: Measure the

angle at which different individuals throw the objects and their corresponding distances.

Generate a table of results and graph a scatter graph to see if there is a pattern

2. What is the effect of the run up speed on the distance covered in a long jump? Have

different people take jumps, from stationary position, walk, quick walk, jog, run, and

sprint and see how the run up speed affects the distance obtained in a long jump

3. Shopping: Many people do their shopping in urban centers as opposed to local shops.

Does location affect price? Compare the prices in some favorite shopping areas in towns

vs prices in local areas

4. Measurement: what is the maximum area and perimeter that can be enclosed by a string

of length A. How does optimizing area affect perimeter and how does optimizing

perimeter affect area?

5. What accounts for the difference in attendance patterns in upper streams vs lower streams

in a particular grade ant a particular school

6. Weighted Down: How does the amount of weight carried by an athlete affect their speed

over a 50m distance

7. Leaking faucet: What is the cost incurred if a faucet/pipe is left dripping for a year?

8. Electricity saver: What is the effect of ironing once per week for a month vs ironing

everyday

9. Is there a relationship between the hours spent studying and the grades obtained by a

student. Examine two or three subjects

10. What is the optimal distance for shooting goals on a netball court? 

11. You could also examine the goal scoring percentage of students based on their height

12. Is the penalty Spot the best place to score a goal? What is the relative probability of

shooting from elsewhere on the field? 

13. Students will undertake an investigation in which they make a comparison of the cost of

two similar items or two decisions to determine which is more feasible. (the decision

must be informed by appropriate calculations and mathematical judgement)

14. Which two similar appliances/equipment/vehicles is, “the better buy”

15. Which two vacation packages is, “better”-“cheaper”

16. Build versus buy a house

17. Use washing or take clothes to the laundry

18. Determine by calculation which of two stoves: Gas versus Electricity is the “better buy”

(a) Cost of aacquirng both stoves by cash and hire purchase

(b) Cost of operating both stoves – that is, cost of gas versus cost of electricity

19. Choose a room with an irregular shape, sketch the outline fo the floor, choose an

appropriate measuring instrument that can be used to find the dimensions of the room, the

floor is to be covered with tiles select a square tile of an appropriate size to cover the

floor show on your diagram how the tiles will be laid, state the number of tiles that are

needed to cover the floor.

20. Does the location of a store affect the prices that are charged?

21. What is the optimum range for scoring goals on a

(a) Netball court

(b) football field

(c) basketball court

22. What is the effect of height on the percentage of goals scored in netball?

23. Does the size of the ball used affect the number of goals scored in a netball match? [hint:

try using a netball, football or volleyball to shoot goals and compare the results]

24. Do drink companies give as much as they say they are? Here do a survey of different

brands of juice, measure the volume in each box and compare with the number printed on

the carton; a variant of this question could include measuring mass of various products.

25. Using the same cyclist is a BMX faster than a mountain bike over 100m?

26. Is typing faster than writing?

27. What is the safest angle to mount a ladder against a wall?

28. Does running a curve take longer than running the same distance on a straight?

29. Given two rolls of mesh wire measuring 50 metre each. Find the largest area the rolls of

wire can cover and how much corn can be planted on it.

30. Given a coin, find the most suitable outcome to get an unbiased head or tail. Coin must

be tossed 50 times on each surface listed. Plastic cup and palm of hands on carpeted

surface, tiled surface, and ground surface.