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) · Metro

Phil Neville reveals the Chelsea ‘weakness’ which Hull exploited in 2-2 draw

Former Manchester United player Phil Neville (Picture: NBC Sports) Phil Neville identified the weakness in Chelsea’s set-up which Hull City exploited as they earned a 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Saturday. Chelsea looked as if they were set to coast to a comfortable victory when Morgan Rogers opened the scoring…

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Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Chelsea drew 2-2 with Hull City. If Chelsea had won, how many more points would they have got in the Premier League?

Your answer

Morgan Rogers opened the scoring for Chelsea. If the match finished 2-2, how many goals did Hull City score?

Your answer

Phil Neville identified a weakness in Chelsea's set-up. If Hull exploited it to score 2 goals, what fraction of the total goals in the match did Hull score?

Your answer

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National (UK)

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

National (UK) · London Evening Standard

OPINION - Why millions of Brits are dead wrong about what’s really happening on London’s streets

People are way too negative about the realities of London, says KCL professor Bobby Duffy, who has just published a landmark report on misperceptions of life in the capital

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A report says people are too negative about London. If 60% of 500 surveyed adults were too negative, how many adults is that?

Your answer

If 3 in 5 Brits are too negative about London, what percentage is that?

Your answer

A report on misperceptions of life in the capital is published by a KCL professor. If the report has 8 chapters and each chapter is 12 pages, how many pages is the report?

Your answer

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National (UK) · London Evening Standard

The London children trapped in Britain’s £500m County Lines drug trade

Organised gangs are forcing children into violent slavery on an industrial scale, yet the warning signs are often missed by schools, police and social care, reports Hannah Wallace

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article mentions Britain’s County Lines drug trade is worth £500m. If this cost were shared equally among 1,000 people, how much would each person pay?

Your answer

If a school of 800 students missed the warning signs for 5% of children involved in County Lines, how many children would that be?

Your answer

The article says gangs force children into violent slavery 'on an industrial scale'. If 200 children were identified and this was only 10% of the total, how many children are involved altogether?

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 · The Independent — World

One person dead and 30 missing after ferry sinks in Vanuatu

Prime minister’s office says tragedy ‘result of strong winds and marine warnings not being heeded’

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

One person died and 30 are missing after a ferry sank in Vanuatu. How many people are known to be dead or missing in total?

Your answer

The tragedy was said to be a result of strong winds and marine warnings not being heeded. If 30 people are missing and 1 is confirmed dead, what is the ratio of dead to missing?

Your answer

If the ferry was carrying 50 people and 1 died and 30 are missing, how many are accounted for?

Your answer

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Global · The Independent — World

Trespasser stopped by security at Kamala Harris’ Malibu mansion

Neither former Vice President Kamala Harris or her husband were home at the time of the incident

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A trespasser was stopped by security at Kamala Harris’ Malibu mansion. If security stopped the trespasser in 4 minutes and 30 seconds, how many seconds is that?

Your answer

Neither Kamala Harris nor her husband were home at the time of the incident. If the mansion has 6 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, how many rooms is that in total?

Your answer

If the trespasser was stopped 15 metres from the mansion and the mansion is 45 metres away from the gate, how far had the trespasser travelled from the gate?

Your answer

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Global · The Independent — World

Giuliani reveals what he said to Mamdani during viral handshake moment at 9/11 ceremony

‘Both of us had ended up facing each other, so we knew we could create a distraction,’ Rudy Giuliani said

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Giuliani said 'Both of us had ended up facing each other, so we knew we could create a distraction.' If the handshake lasted 8 seconds and was viewed 2.5 million times, what was the average number of views per second?

Your answer

The handshake moment went viral. If it was shared 12,000 times on one platform and 8,500 times on another, how many shares were there in total?

Your answer

If the viral handshake video was 15 seconds long and 1.2 million people watched it, what was the total watch time in hours?

Your answer

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Politics

UK and Westminster politics, policy and elections.

Politics · BBC News — Politics

Reform receives second £36m donation in two days as crypto investor matches record

The party says the money will allow it to fight the next election on a "level playing field", while rivals have renewed calls for donations from individuals to be capped.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Reform received a £36m donation. How many £1m donations would that be equivalent to?

Your answer

Reform received a second £36m donation in two days. What was the total amount donated over the two days?

Your answer

If the two donations were each £36m, what is the mean donation per day over the two days?

Your answer

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Politics · BBC News — Politics

MPs vote against fresh attempt to legalise assisted dying

The proposed law sought to introduce one of the biggest societal changes in recent years.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

MPs voted against a fresh attempt to legalise assisted dying. If 300 MPs voted against and 200 voted for, what percentage voted against?

Your answer

The proposed law sought one of the biggest societal changes in recent years. If the vote was 250 against and 150 for, what is the ratio of against to for in simplest form?

Your answer

If 400 MPs voted against the law and 250 voted for, how many more voted against than for?

Your answer

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Politics · BBC News — Politics

Vets can diagnose bluetongue to cut test delays

The government announces the change in approach as the virus continues to spread in the UK.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The government announced that vets can now diagnose bluetongue to cut test delays. If previously tests took 10 days and now take 4 days, what is the percentage decrease in waiting time?

Your answer

Bluetongue virus is spreading in the UK. If there were 120 confirmed cases last month and this month there are 150, what is the percentage increase?

Your answer

If a vet can now diagnose 15 cases per day instead of 6, how many extra cases can be diagnosed in a 5-day week?

Your answer

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Environment & science

Climate, nature, energy and science stories.

Environment & science · BBC — Science & environment

Five night sky events to look out for this autumn

From meteor showers to a November supermoon, there are a number of impressive sights to behold in the autumn night sky.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article mentions five night sky events to look out for this autumn. If one is a November supermoon, what fraction of the events is that?

Your answer

If there are 5 night sky events and 2 are meteor showers, what percentage of the events are meteor showers?

Your answer

If the five events are spread evenly across September, October and November, how many events would you expect in each month?

Your answer

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Environment & science · The Guardian — Environment

Warm ski season a warning of bleak future for Australia’s snow tourism: ‘So this is our new normal’

While holidaymakers have maintained ‘super positive attitudes’, average snow depths measured since 1954 have declined by nearly 20%If you freeze it, they will come. For now.On a weekday morning in early September, Perisher is beautiful. Too beautiful. The snow guns have just laid down a blanket of fresh powder when …

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Average snow depths measured since 1954 have declined by nearly 20%. If the average depth in 1954 was 100 cm, what would a 20% decline give?

Your answer

If average snow depths have declined by 20% from 150 cm, what is the new average depth?

Your answer

A ski resort had an average snow depth of 80 cm. If this is a 20% decline from the 1954 average, what was the 1954 average?

Your answer

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Environment & science · The Guardian — Environment

We know how to prevent black lung, so why are workers still dying?

Silicosis sufferers are getting younger as Trump and the coal mining industry push back on protectionsSilicosis is one of the oldest workplace hazards and public health experts have known for decades how to prevent it. Yet a new wave of workers, from Appalachian coalminers to Latino countertop fabrication workers, a…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article says silicosis sufferers are getting younger. If the average age of sufferers was 55 ten years ago and is now 45, what is the percentage decrease in average age?

Your answer

If 30% of Appalachian coalminers develop silicosis and there are 2,000 miners, how many are affected?

Your answer

Public health experts have known how to prevent silicosis for decades. If they have known for 50 years, how many months is that?

Your answer

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Sport

Sport news (including football).

Sport · The Guardian — Sport

Elena Rybakina beats Aryna Sabalenka to seal dramatic US Open title triumph

Rybakina wins 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 despite first-serve problemsOvercomes top seed and two-time defending championEven after she had won grand slam titles and conquered all surfaces, Elena Rybakina has always been considered lesser than the greatest players of her era. She has long been one of the most devastating shotmaker…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Elena Rybakina won the US Open final 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. How many games did she win in total?

Your answer

In the final, Rybakina won 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. How many games did Sabalenka win in total?

Your answer

Rybakina won the match 2 sets to 1. What fraction of the sets did she win?

Your answer

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Sport · The Independent — Sport

Garcia vs Benn LIVE: Fight result and reaction tonight as ‘King Ryan’ demolishes Benn in second round

The divisive American star made short work of the controversial Briton, retaining the WBC welterweight belt in the process

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Garcia demolished Benn in the second round. If a round lasts 3 minutes, how many minutes did the fight last?

Your answer

Garcia retained the WBC welterweight belt. If the fight ended in round 2 of a scheduled 12-round fight, what fraction of the scheduled rounds was completed?

Your answer

If Garcia won in the second round and the fight started at 10:00 pm, at what time did it end?

Your answer

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Sport · The Independent — Sport

Ryan Garcia wipes out Conor Benn in two rounds in emphatic end to Briton’s world-title dream

Benn’s first world-title fight was a brief one, as WBC welterweight champion Garcia stopped the Briton early

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Ryan Garcia stopped Conor Benn in two rounds. If a round lasts 3 minutes, how many minutes did the fight last?

Your answer

If Garcia landed 15 punches in the first round and 10 in the second, what was his average number of punches per round?

Your answer

Benn's world-title dream ended early. If the fight was scheduled for 12 rounds but ended in 2, what fraction of the scheduled rounds was completed?

Your answer

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Local & regional

City and regional papers across the UK.

Local & regional · Manchester Evening News

Record-breaking Man United signing's transfer value has plummeted by more than 50%

One Man United signing has witnessed a dramatic fall in his value

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A Manchester United signing's transfer value has plummeted by more than 50%. If his original value was £80m, what is his new value if it fell by exactly 50%?

Your answer

If a player's value dropped by 60% from £100m, what is the new value?

Your answer

If the value fell by more than 50%, is the new value more or less than half the original?

Your answer

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Local & regional · Birmingham Mail

DWP confirms birth dates which qualify for Winter Fuel Payment

The DWP and the Labour Party government are bringing back the payments for 2026.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The DWP confirms birth dates which qualify for Winter Fuel Payment for 2026. If the payment is £300 and a pensioner receives it, how much is that in pounds?

Your answer

If a pensioner born on 1 January 1955 qualifies for a £200 Winter Fuel Payment, how much would they receive if the payment is increased by 10%?

Your answer

If the Winter Fuel Payment is £250 and a pensioner receives it for 3 years, how much do they get in total?

Your answer

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Local & regional · Birmingham Mail

The law on riding a quad bike on the road as Birmingham footage shows scary near-miss

West Midlands Police also has several ways residents can report quad bikers

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article mentions a near-miss involving a quad bike. If the quad bike was travelling at 30 mph and the speed limit on that road is 20 mph, by how much did it exceed the limit?

Your answer

West Midlands Police has several ways to report quad bikers. If there are 5 ways and each way receives an average of 12 reports per day, how many reports are made in a week?

Your answer

If a quad bike travels 15 miles in 30 minutes, what is its average speed in mph?

Your answer

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