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The Language of Functions part 1

In mathematics you don’t understand things. You just get used to them. (John von Neumann)

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video

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Mrs Smith has a new class of 12 children. She knows that children learn best when they work together. She does, however, have to take the following into consideration:

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  • Arthur, Charlie and Lucy fight when they are put together.
  • Charlie, Harry and Dan joke all the time and never get any work done when together.
  • Elaine, Isla and Lucy just don’t like each other.
  • Greg doesn’t get along with anybody in the band, which includes Arthur, Dan, Harry and Jill.
  • Kerry and Lucy are twins and shouldn’t be in the same group.
  • Harry, Isla and Lucy are the class leaders, and no two should be in the same group.
  • Faye hasn’t worked with Arthur or Barry since that incident last year and will not do anything unless she is with Dan.
  • Everybody knows why Kerry and Charlie shouldn’t be in the same group.

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Put the students in the smallest number of equal sized groups that you can.

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One year later and, unsurprisingly, different issues have arisen.

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  • Kerry, Barry, Lucy and Jill are the new class leaders, and no two should be in the same group.
  • Charlie can’t concentrate if he’s in the same group with Lucy, Elaine or Isla.
  • Arthur, Barry, Harry and Dan talk only about football if any two of them are together.
  • Lucy, Isla and Kerry just stare at each other if they are in the same group.
  • Jill doesn’t like anyone whose name begins with a vowel.
  • Faye continues to refuse to work with Arthur or Barry since that incident two years ago.
  • Kerry and Faye both like the same boy, so they can’t work together.
  • Everyone likes Greg.

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Put the children in the smallest number of equal sized groups that you can.

How many different groupings can you find for Mrs Smith?

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1st year groups

2nd year groups

Mrs Smith has decided the children will work on separate tables – Lucy has developed OCD and requires a choice of 2 tables.

Mrs Smith has had enough - the children will work separately (and in silence).

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video

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