Mathematics in Careers

The following mathematics investigations for year 10 to 12 students were developed in collaboration with various Industry partners, to showcase how maths is applied in real industry scenarios to solve problems.

The investigations demonstrate the types of thinking and skills that industry require, while applying mathematics that is relevant to the curriculum and real world contexts to bring learning to life.

The activities have been used at MAV’s maths camps to successfully engage students:

The investigations use various mathematical skills, including data analysis and representation, modelling, problem solving and critical thinking to apply mathematics in real world scenarios.
Investigations showcase a variety of careers sectors that are underpinned by mathematics.
Through the activities students will be engaged in exploring various related careers and understanding the importance of mathematics to success in these fields.
Students and teacher versions of each investigation are available and can be downloaded and used in your classroom.
Investigations are aimed at year 10 to 12 students.

MAV would like to thank the Australian Centre for Career Education and the Victorian Department of Education and Training for their support in developing these activities.

$THE EDUCATION STATE \ VICTORIA State Government | Education and Training$

Investigation Title	Career focus areas	Mathematical focus	Download
Body Mass Index (BMI)	Sport Scientist, dietician, personal trainer	Using formulas to solve problems Re-arranging expressions to make a specified variable the subject Using authentic data to construct scatter plots, make comparisons and draw conclusions	Student resources Teacher notes


Bone Mineral Density (BMD)	Health & Biomedical sciences	Use appropriate methods to sort, organise, and manipulate data Create graphs to show patterns in data Explore the connection between algebraic and graphical representations of relations	Student resources Teacher notes


Cell Size	Biologist, zoologist, environmental scientist	Using formulas to solve problems Re-arranging expressions to make a specified variable the subject Using authentic situations to apply knowledge and understanding of surface area and volume	Student resources Teacher notes


Collision	Engineering and design	Solving simple equations arising from formulas Re-arranging expressions to make a specified variable the subject Calculate speed, time, and distance Represent word problems with simple linear equations and solving them to answer questions Comparing and analysing data to draw conclusions Kinetics (physics)	Student resource Teacher notes


Vehicle Safety	Engineering and design	Represent worded problem with simple linear equations and solve them to answer questions. Solving simple equations arising from formulas Calculate speed, time, and distance Comparing and analysing data to draw conclusions	Student resource Teacher notes


Exploring changes in the cash rate and its effect on the economy	Economics, Commerce	Represent word problem with simple linear equations and solving them to answer questions Solving simple equations arising from formulas Re-arranging expressions to make a specified variable the subject Associating the solution of simultaneous equations with the coordinates of the intersection of their corresponding graphs.	Student resource Teacher notes


Comparing student ability and question difficulty	Educational Research	Create graphs to show patterns in data Explore the connection between algebraic and graphical representations of relations	Student resource Teacher notes


Food Industry and coding	Software engineer, coding, information technology	Using formulas to solve problems Using authentic situations to apply knowledge to solve real world problems Implement algorithm	Student resource Teacher notes


Panel Cutting	Software engineer, coding, information technology	Using formulas to solve problems Implement algorithms Using authentic situations to apply knowledge to solve real world problems	Student resource Teacher notes


Pet Alarm	Software engineer, coding, information technology	Using formulas to solve problems Using authentic situations to apply knowledge to solve real world problems Implement algorithms	Student resource Teacher notes

Mathematics in Careers

Investigation Title

Career focus areas

Mathematical focus

Download

The Common Denominator 2/24

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