Introduction to Numbers

Number I – OCR GCSE (J560)

In this course, Dr Thomas Woolley (Cardiff University) works with numbers, covering Topics 1.01a, 1.01b, 1.02a, 1.03a, 1.04a, 2.01a, 2.01b, 2.02a, 2.02b, 2.02c, 2.04a, 2.04b, and 3.03a in the OCR GCSE (9-1) Mathematics (J560) Specification for Foundation and Higher Tier. In the first mini-lecture, we introduce numbers using the number line and discuss some historical context. In the second mini-lecture, we learn about the numbers between the integers in the form of decimals and fractions (Topic 2.04a). In the third mini-lecture, we think about important symbols in mathematics, including the equals, non-equals, greater than, less than, greater than or equal to, and less than or equal to symbols (Topic 2.04b). In the fourth mini-lecture, we discuss how to use the operations of addition and subtraction before moving onto multiplication and division in the fifth mini-lecture (Topic 1.01a). In the sixth mini-lecture, we practice working with fractions and decimals (Topics 2.01a, 2.01b, 2.02a, 2.02b, 2.02c, 3.03a). In the seventh mini-lecture, we introduce place value and the base 10 number system (Topics 1.02a, 2.02a). In the eighth mini-lecture, we learn about inverse operations (Topic 1.04a). In the ninth mini-lecture, we use order of operations (PEMDAS or BIDMAS) to simplify expressions (Topic 1.03a).

Introduction to Numbers

In the first mini-lecture, we introduce numbers, focusing on: (i) how we use numbers in the real-world and their fundamental importance; (ii) the natural numbers on the number line; (iii) the number zero and the history of its creation; (iv) the clay tablet in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford with ancient calculations; and (v) negative numbers and some history on their use.