22 November 2017

Singapore’s schools are starting to teach students the principles and techniques of mathematical modelling to enable them to solve complex real-world problems using concepts that they have learnt in class.

Mathematical modelling including collecting data for analysis, building mathematical descriptions of phenomena, solving equations and inequalities concerning real-world systems, and being able to make both predictions as well as generalizations.

A new online resource – www.mathmodelling.sg – was launched in September by a National Institute of Education professor to provide teachers with both teaching as well as learning resources in mathematical modelling. Popular problems posted on the website include the famous Monty Hall problem, modelling Newton’s Law of Cooling, and formulating geometry problems in terms of probability.

Associate Professor Ang Keng Cheng of NIE’s mathematics and mathematics education academic group said that mathematical modelling develops skills such as analysing data, coming up with equations to represent the relationships between variables and using software to run simulations.

National Junior College, which uses maths modelling as part of its assessment, encourages students to think beyond the traditional syllabus. Said Ms Ling Hwee Cheng, NJC’s head of department for mathematics: “Very often in maths classes, we have only one answer. But in real life, your answer depends on a lot of factors. We want students to learn that and to deal with uncertainty.”