Mathematical Modelling
The modelling exercises on this page are intended to be worked on by groups of 2-5 students. Many of the exercises have multiple sheets that should be used consecutively. Copy the front sides of the sheets and then give the first sheet in a set to a group of students. Hand out the subsequent sheets only when the group has finished working on the previous one. (Sheets may contain solutions to previous ones and several sheets being handed out at the same time can overwhelm some students).
Many of the questions don't have clear cut answers, and sometimes alternative paths to solutions are possible.
The back side of each sheet shows notes on the solution. These notes are targeted at teachers and should not normally be provided to students.
Downloads:-
Teacher version
Double-sided problem sheets for teachers with solutions
- Contents and Usage Notes (PDF, 195kB)
- Moving mount Fugi (PDF, 135kB)
- The top-notch burger joint (PDF, 117kB)
- A Fermi challenge (PDF, 117kB)
- Mathematical removals (PDF, 294kB)
- Rolling a 50p coin (PDF, 860kB)
- Length of days (PDF, 230kB)
- Greek geometry (PDF, 579kB)
- Rugby kicking (PDF, 267kB)
- Payday loans (PDF, 158kB)
- A secret of bees (PDF, 223kB)
- One-sided arch (PDF, 325kB)
- Weightless girl (PDF, 167kB)
- Interstellar flight (PDF, 401kB)
- Ball bouncing (PDF, 248kB)
- Sports betting (PDF, 231kB)
- Simpson's paradox (PDF, 475kB)
- Railway line (PDF, 239kB)
- Comparative advantage (PDF, 241kB)
- Water a sports field (PDF, 134kB)
- Car parking (PDF, 195kB)
Student version
Single-sided problem sheets without solutions for easy printing
- Moving Mount Fuji (PDF, 112kB)
- The top-notch burger joint (PDF, 79kB)
- A Fermi challenge (PDF, 102kB)
- Mathematical removals (PDF, 200kB)
- Rolling a 50p coin (PDF, 618kB)
- Length of days (PDF, 191kB)
- Greek geometry (PDF, 314kB)
- Rugby kicking (PDF, 152kB)
- Payday loans (PDF, 126kB)
- A secret of bees (PDF, 156kB)
- One-sided arch (PDF, 196kB)
- Weightless girl (PDF, 125kB)
- Interstellar flight (PDF, 338kB)
- Ball bouncing (PDF, 144kB)
- Sports betting (PDF, 162kB)
- Simpson’s paradox (PDF, 131kB)
- Railway line (PDF, 104kB)
- Comparative advantage (PDF, 165kB)
- Water a sports field (PDF, 111kB)
- Car parking (PDF, 121kB)
The modelling exercises are provided by the University of Bristol under a creative commons no derivatives license CC-ND 4.0 (you can copy and distribute the sheets as you like, even commercially, but you cannot change them; for more info see creativecommons.org).
We are constantly improving the exercises and making further exercises available so come back for updates.
Get in touch
For comments or feedback please contact Prof. Alan Champneys A.R.Champneys@Bristol.ac.uk.
