Vault Times — Maths in the news

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Our pick of the day for numbers, data and context — the rest of the edition follows by section.

National (UK) · London Evening Standard

Storms and soaring costs combine to send shopper footfall sliding in October

Overall footfall was down 3.1% in Northern Ireland, 4.3% in Scotland, 4.6% in England and by 6.3% in Wales.

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Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Footfall fell 3.1% in Northern Ireland and 6.3% in Wales. How many percentage points bigger was the Welsh fall?

Your answer

If England's footfall had been 1,000 shoppers before the fall, how many would remain after a 4.6% drop?

Your answer

Scotland fell 4.3% and England fell 4.6%. Which region had the smaller percentage fall, and by how much?

Your answer

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National (UK)

Headlines from UK-wide outlets: general news and analysis.

National (UK) · YouGov

Which personal care and beauty brands stand out among luxury shoppers?

Understanding he brands that the most UK adults would consider the next time they are in the market to purchase a personal care or beauty product.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A survey asks UK adults which beauty brand they would consider next. If 240 people are asked and 60 name the same brand, what percentage is that?

Your answer

In a sample of 500 luxury shoppers, 85 say they would consider a particular personal care brand. What fraction of the sample is this, in simplest form?

Your answer

If 3 in 10 luxury shoppers would consider Brand A and 45% would consider Brand B, which brand has more support and by how many percentage points?

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National (UK) · YouGov

YouGov News Tracker: 1 - 2 November 2026

What is the one news story the British public have heard most about in the last week?

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The tracker covers 1–2 November 2026. How many days does that period span?

Your answer

The tracker asks about the last week. How many days is that?

Your answer

If the tracker surveyed people on both days and 500 people were asked each day, how many people were asked in total?

Your answer

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Statistics

Polling, surveys, trackers and data-led public opinion pieces.

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Global

International and world news.

Global · Positive News

What went right this week: the good news that matters

Nature was restored at ‘unprecedented scale’, Barbados halted HIV transmission in babies, and a fuel revolution picked up speed, plus more The post What went right this week: the good news that matters appeared first on Positive News.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Barbados halted HIV transmission in babies. If there were 0 new baby infections in a year compared with 12 the year before, what is the percentage decrease?

Your answer

A fuel revolution ‘picked up speed’. If electric car sales rose from 40,000 to 50,000 in a year, what is the percentage increase?

Your answer

Nature was restored at ‘unprecedented scale’. Write a short sentence explaining why ‘unprecedented’ is a strong claim to check.

Your answer

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Global · BBC News — World

Democratic socialist defeats incumbent Karen Bass in Los Angeles mayor's race

The results mean America's two most populous cities - New York and Los Angeles - will be led by democratic socialists.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article says America's two most populous cities will be led by democratic socialists. How many cities is that?

Your answer

If New York has about 8.3 million people and Los Angeles about 3.8 million, roughly how many million people live in the two cities combined?

Your answer

A candidate wins with 52% of the vote in a two-candidate race. What percentage does the other candidate get?

Your answer

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Global · The Guardian — World

Peru airport officials discover 3,000 tarantulas smuggled inside dirty socks

Three suitcases’ worth of the spiders were on their way to Germany, where they could fetch an estimated €1.5mMore than 3,000 tarantulas were seized at an airport in Lima on their way to Germany, Peruvian authorities said.The spiders were hidden inside dirty socks contained in three suitcases carried by two Germans a…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

About 3,000 tarantulas were found in three suitcases. On average, how many spiders were in each suitcase?

Your answer

The spiders could fetch an estimated €1.5m. If split equally between 3,000 spiders, what is the value per spider?

Your answer

Two Germans carried three suitcases. What is the mean number of suitcases per person?

Your answer

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Politics

UK and Westminster politics, policy and elections.

Politics · BBC News — Politics

Interest rates hiked to 4% in first increase in over three years

Most analysts expected the increase from 3.75% to 4%.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Interest rates rose from 3.75% to 4%. By how many percentage points did they increase?

Your answer

What is the percentage increase from 3.75% to 4%, rounded to 1 decimal place?

Your answer

If you had £2,000 in savings earning 4% simple interest for one year, how much interest would you get?

Your answer

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Politics · The Guardian — Politics

Interest rate rise in midst of cost of living crisis will leave many incredulous

Bank’s decision goes contrary to analysis from Office for Budget Responsibility that predicts lower inflation and little impetus for wage growthBank of England raises interest rates to 4%Business live – latest updatesAn interest rate rise by the Bank of England to 4% is a big call when households are suffering from …

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The Bank of England raised interest rates to 4%. If the previous rate was 3.5%, by how many percentage points did it rise?

Your answer

A £200 monthly mortgage payment rises by 4%. By how much does the payment increase?

Your answer

The Bank raised rates to 4% while the OBR predicts lower inflation. Write a short sentence explaining what a 4% interest rate means for savers.

Your answer

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Politics · BBC News — Politics

'Not my job to set a budget,' says secretary of state

Sir Chris Bryant is understood to have asked parties to commit to raising an extra £200m in income.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Sir Chris Bryant asked parties to commit to raising an extra £200m. Write £200m in pounds in figures.

Your answer

If £200m were shared equally between 4 parties, how much would each raise?

Your answer

If the extra £200m were raised over 5 years, what is the average amount per year?

Your answer

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Environment & science

Climate, nature, energy and science stories.

Environment & science · BBC — Science & environment

Could the earliest weakening of the polar vortex on record bring UK snow?

An unprecedented early weakening of the polar vortex is causing uncertainty amongst experts over the impact it will have on UK weather as Simon King explains.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The polar vortex weakened earlier than on record. If the previous earliest weakening was day 30 of winter and this year it was day 24, how many days earlier is that?

Your answer

If experts say there is a 40% chance of UK snow following the early weakening, what is the probability, as a fraction in simplest form, that there is no snow?

Your answer

Explain in one sentence why an ‘unprecedented’ early weakening makes forecasting UK weather uncertain.

Your answer

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Environment & science · BBC — Science & environment

Delhi's toxic winter air is back - is the Indian capital prepared for pollution?

The Delhi government has announced a four-month winter action plan, but experts say that won't be enough.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Delhi's winter action plan lasts four months. How many weeks is that, using 4 weeks per month?

Your answer

If the plan starts on 1 November, on what date does a four-month plan end?

Your answer

Experts say the four-month plan won't be enough. Write one sentence suggesting what else Delhi could do.

Your answer

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Environment & science · BBC — Science & environment

Over 1,000 tonnes of sewage seen at landfill site

The Environment Agency says it has issued the operator with a series of actions after an inspection.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Over 1,000 tonnes of sewage was seen at a landfill site. Write 1,000 tonnes in kilograms.

Your answer

If 1,000 tonnes were spread equally over 4 days, how many tonnes per day?

Your answer

The Environment Agency issued a series of actions after an inspection. If there were 5 actions and each took 3 days, how many days in total?

Your answer

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Sport

Sport news (including football).

Sport · The Guardian — Sport

Europa League: Sunderland lose at home to Zagreb while Celtic enjoy first win

Evanilson helps Bournemouth to 3-1 win at Sparta PragueFerencvaros prevail 2-0 at Milan to keep 100% recordSunderland’s unbeaten run in the Europa League came to an end as they were beaten 2-0 by Dinamo Zagreb at the Stadium of Light.Dinamo went ahead through Luka Stojkovic’s fierce strike and the midfielder turned …

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Sunderland lost 2-0 to Dinamo Zagreb. What was the goal difference in the match?

Your answer

Bournemouth won 3-1 at Sparta Prague. If Bournemouth had 12 shots and scored 3, what was their goals-to-shots ratio in simplest form?

Your answer

Ferencvaros won 2-0 at Milan to keep a 100% record. If they have won all 4 of their matches, how many points have they earned at 3 points per win?

Your answer

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Sport · BBC Sport

Duran & Osmand spark Celtic into life - but where does that leave Hogh?

Martin O'Neill has previously said he is unsure of his best team, but it is now obvious that Camilo Duran is Celtic's best option through the middle.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Celtic's manager is unsure of his best team, but Duran is the best option through the middle. In a 4-3-3 formation, how many players are in the middle (midfield) area?

Your answer

If Duran scores 2 goals in a match and Osmand scores 1, what is the total number of goals scored by the pair?

Your answer

Celtic win 3–1. What is the goal difference?

Your answer

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Sport · The Guardian — Sport

Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Lampard appreciation at Everton, Glasner sparking Forest fire, Zubimendi and Kroupi in spotlight and Carrick v EmeryPremier League top scorersNothing better encapsulates the dysfunction that was Everton under Farhad Moshiri than the idea that an unknown vandal with a can of spray paint could influence the club’s man…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article mentions Premier League top scorers. If a striker has scored 8 goals in 10 games, what is the mean number of goals per game?

Your answer

If Everton score 2 goals and their opponents score 1, what is the goal difference?

Your answer

A team has 12 points from 6 matches. What is the average number of points per match?

Your answer

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Local & regional

City and regional papers across the UK.

Local & regional · Birmingham Mail

Birmingham coffee scene gets more 'robusta' plus more food and drink news this week

Here's the latest food and drink news from across the city.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A Birmingham coffee shop sells a flat white for £3.20 and raises the price by 10%. What is the new price?

Your answer

A café sells 80 coffees on Monday and 100 on Tuesday. What is the percentage increase?

Your answer

If a bag of coffee beans costs £8.40 and is reduced by 25%, what is the sale price?

Your answer

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Local & regional · WalesOnline

Attract hedgehogs to gardens in November by leaving 1 food outside

Hedgehogs start hibernating in November but they still need our help to survive the winter. Here's a simple winter hedgehog care tip that will help attract them to your garden this month

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article says hedgehogs start hibernating in November. If hibernation lasts 5 months from 1 November, in which month does it end?

Your answer

The tip is to leave 1 food item outside. If a gardener does this every day in November, how many items are left out in total?

Your answer

A hedgehog needs to eat about 100 g of food a night. How much is that over 7 nights?

Your answer

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Local & regional · Manchester Evening News

Michael Carrick must scrap a tactic that has angered Manchester United fans

Michael Carrick needs to rethink a tactic that was to blame for Roma's goals against Man Utd earlier in the week.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Michael Carrick needs to rethink a tactic blamed for Roma's goals against Man Utd. If Roma scored 3 goals and 2 came from that tactic, what fraction of the goals came from it?

Your answer

If Man Utd conceded 3 goals in that match and 2 were blamed on the tactic, what percentage is that?

Your answer

Write a short sentence explaining why Carrick might change the tactic.

Your answer

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