Max Maths, Year 6, Try it, Word problems (2)

In a segment of a Year 6 mathematics textbook, students are presented with real-life applications of mathematical concepts through word problems. The first problem involves a sports team consisting of 16 young people, of which 12 are girls. Students are tasked with calculating the proportion of girls in the team, which would be 12 out of 16. They must also find the proportion of boys in the team, and then determine the ratio of boys to girls, providing a practical application of fractions and ratios.

The second problem presents a recipe for a fruit salad that serves 4 people, including a list of ingredients with specific quantities, such as 2 apples and 1 litre of fruit juice. Students are challenged to adjust the quantities of each ingredient to serve different numbers of people: 8, 2, and 6. This exercise encourages students to apply their understanding of multiplication and division to scale the quantities appropriately. The instructions then direct students to workbook pages to continue their practice. This hands-on approach helps students to see the relevance of mathematics in everyday tasks, such as cooking and proportioning.