Mathematical literacy provides learners with an understanding of how mathematics is applied in everyday life and work. It focuses on using basic math concepts to solve real-world problems, rather than expanding on mathematical content like a traditional math course. Mathematical literacy prepares students for roles as self-managing individuals, contributing workers, and participating citizens by teaching skills like calculating loan repayments, reading charts and schedules, and evaluating statistical arguments. While mathematical literacy uses relevant contexts, traditional math applies concepts across both real and theoretical examples. Students planning careers in fields requiring advanced math skills should take traditional math instead of mathematical literacy.

1. Mathematical
What is it? Liter acy
Should my child take
it?
And other
questions.. A guide for parents
http://mathsliteracy.wordpress.com

2. WHAT IS MATHS
LITERACY?
“I only really
understood positive
and negative
numbers once I had
to manage my
overdraft on my
cheque account.”
Readers Digest
1998

3. Is this maths
literacy……?
A Jamaican man
wants a job, but the
foreman won't hire
him until he passes a
little maths test.

4. Here is your first question, the foreman said.
"Without using numbers,
represent the number 9."
"Without numbers?" The Jamaican says,
"Dat is easy."
And proceeds to draw three trees.

5. "What's this?" the boss asks
"Ave you got no brain?
Tree and tree and tree make nine," says the
Jamaican.
"Fair enough," says the boss.

6. "Here's your second question. Use the
same rules, but this time the number
is 99."
The Jamaican stares into space for a
while, then picks up the picture that
he has just drawn and makes a
smudge on each tree.
"Ere you go."

7. The boss scratches his head and says,
"How on earth do you get that to
represent 99?"
"Each of da trees is dirty now.
So, it's dirty tree, and dirty tree, and
dirty tree. Dat is 99."

8. The boss is getting worried that he's going
to actually have to hire this Jamaican, so
he says,
"All right, last question. Same rules
again, but represent the number
100."

9. The Jamaican stares into space some
more, then he picks up the picture again
and makes a little mark at the base of
each tree and says,
"Ere you go. One hundred."

10. The boss looks at the attempt.
"You must be nuts if you think that
represents a hundred!"

11. The Jamaican leans forward and points to the
marks at the base of each tree and says,
"A little dog come along and crap by each
tree. So now you got dirty tree and a turd,
dirty tree and a turd, and dirty tree and a
turd,
which makes one hundred."

12. "SO, WHEN I START?"

13. Mathematical Literacy provides learners
with an awareness and understanding of
the role that mathematics plays in the
modern world. Mathematical Literacy is a
subject driven by life-related applications
of mathematics. It enables learners to
develop the ability and confidence to
think numerically and spatially in order to
interpret and critically analyse everyday
situations and to solve problems.

14. Self Managing persons
 They should be able to handle
the maths of everyday life, and
know something about:
 Hire purchase
 Mortgage bonds
 Investments
 How to read a map
 Following timetables
 Estimating & calculating areas &
volumes
 Understanding house plans
 Understanding and using dress
patterns
 Using recipes
 Using medicines correctly

15. Contributing workers
 They should have an
understanding of maths in
order to meet the demands
of a job, and be able to:
 Deal with work related
formulae
 Read statistical charts
 Deal with schedules
 Understand instructions
involving numerical
components

16. Participating citizens
 They should be critical of
mathematical arguments
presented in the media and:
 Be aware that statistics can be
used to support opposing
arguments
 Be able to follow mathematical
arguments in the media

17. Difference between
Maths and Maths
Literacy?
 Mathematics
focuses on the
discipline of
mathematics
 Maths Literacy
focuses on the role
of mathematics in
the real world

18. Difference between
Maths and Maths
Literacy?
 With maths literacy,
relevant, current
contexts are used
 With maths, applications
are important, but do not
have to be only real life
contexts

19. Difference between
Maths and Maths
Literacy?
ML: Maths:
Only basic Content is
mathematics is expanded on as
needed. A few the learners
new concepts progress from one
are introduced year to another.
in Grades 10
and 11.

20. Difference between
Maths and Maths
Literacy?
 ML:
Contexts become
more complex
 Maths:
Both content and
contexts become
more complex /
advanced

21. Career choices?
The Learning Outcomes of
Mathematical Literacy are
designed to enable
learners passing through
the Further Education and
Training band to handle
with confidence the
mathematics that affects
their lives and so be
appropriately educated for
the modern world.
.

22. Students proceeding to Higher
Education institutions will have
acquired a mathematical literacy
that will enable them to deal
effectively with mathematically-
related requirements in
disciplines such as the social
and life sciences.
Mathematical Literacy should not
be taken by those learners who
intend to study disciplines which
are mathematically based, such
as the natural sciences or
engineering.

23. Questions you should
ask yourself
 Is my child going to be a
docter, engineer,
scientist?
 Is my child practical or
academic?
 Does my child hate
maths?
 ………

24. What do the learners
say?
 I sucked at maths, but I am loving
ML
 Things makes more sense to me
now that I don’t have to struggle
with x’s and y’s
 It has done a lot for my confidence
 It is so practical I do not even feel
if I am doing maths!
 It is not really easier, it is different
and relevant

25. The world has changed
dramatically and mathematical
literacy is the new currency
Aarnout Brombacher

26. This presentatation was compiled
by Maggie Verster
maggie@maggie.co.za
Follow maths updates on twitter:
www.twitter.com/maggiev
www.twitter.com/mathslitteacher
More information and resources
can be found on the maths literacy
blog at
http://mathsliteracy.wordpress.com
Teachers space:
www.mathsliteracy.co.za