MATHEMATICS

Connecting the Past with the Future

The price of gold is usually given in another weight measurement called an ounce. One ounce is about 31g. The percentage change is the amount of change divided by the original amount.

If the price of gold in 2010 was $1225 per ounce and today it is $1620 per ounce the amount of change is 1620 - 1225 = 395. The percentage change is 395 / 1225 x 100 = 32.2%.

We can say the price of gold has gone up 32.2%. One ounce of gold was worth $279 in 2000 and $603 in 2006. Compared to today's price, by what percentage has the value of gold increased?

Imagine that next year the gold price falls to $1320, what would be the percentage decrease from today's price?

Gold Bullion

Interactive Bullion Charts

Investment Simulation

UNDERSTANDING

Solving problems with percentage.

VALUING COINS AND THE CURRICULUM

Curriculum Linked for Lower Primary

LEARNING

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

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COMPARE THE SWINDLE STATISTICS

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MAXIMISING AREA

PDF Maths Problem Solving

PDF Gold Rush Maths Problem Solving

When these prospectors dig for gold, they first mark out their plot of land and then dig inside the borders of the plot. One of the ways of marking out a plot is to put stakes in the ground at the corners of the plot and then wrap a piece of rope around to mark out the plot’s perimeter. In this task we will be finding out how prospectors can maximise the area in which they dig for gold, when they have a fixed perimeter.