Before you read on, test your numeracy skills with these five challenges. They get harder as you go along. See how far you can get.

The Big Number Natter

Let’s have a natter about maths. Yeah, I know, you might be thinking, “Maths? Really? That’s like asking me to voluntarily step into a spider’s web!” But hold on, hold on. Before you run for the hills, let me share a little secret with you: maths can actually be fun.

First off, let’s debunk a myth straight away: maths isn’t just for number-crunching boffins or geometry enthusiasts. It’s for everyone! And trust me, you don’t need to be a human calculator to appreciate the elegance of mathematics. Whether you’re totting up your budget, planning a day out, or just trying to figure out the best take-away deal, maths is there, quietly nudging you along.

Now, I get it. Maybe your secondary school maths class left you scarred for life. Maybe you still have nightmares about long division or that dreaded algebra test. But here’s the thing: those days are behind you. Being an adult means you get to approach maths on your own terms. No surprise quizzes, no stern teachers—just you and the wide world of numbers waiting to be explored.

But why bother, you ask? Well, for starters, maths is like a mental workout for your brain. It’s a chance to flex those cognitive muscles and keep your grey matter sharp. Plus, understanding maths opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Want to impress with your lightning-fast mental arithmetic skills? Or maybe you’ve dreamt of finally conquering that Sudoku puzzle without resorting to wild guesses. With a bit of practice, you can make it happen!

And let’s not forget the sheer joy of solving a tricky problem. There’s something incredibly satisfying about untangling a knotty maths problem and seeing everything fall into place. It’s like cracking a secret code or completing a puzzle—except way cooler. Plus, once you start seeing the world through a mathematical lens, you’ll never look at things the same way again. Suddenly, everything from the symmetry of a snowflake to the Fibonacci sequence in a sunflower becomes a source of wonder and awe.

So, where do you start? Well, the good news is that there are plenty of resources out there to help you on your maths journey. Need a little guidance? No problem! Check out our Free Math Bitesize courses, or visit websites like BBC Bitesize or OpenLearn for a treasure trove of maths courses and tutorials. They’re fun, interactive, and best of all, totally judgment-free.

So, what are you waiting for? Embrace your inner mathematician and dive headfirst into the wonderful world of mathematics. Who knows? You might just discover that you’re a maths whizz in disguise. And even if you don’t, hey, at least you’ll have a few new tricks up your sleeve the next time you’re divvying up the dinner bill. Happy calculating!

Still unsure? Psycologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos gives her top tips for getting more confident with numbers.

(taken from the National Numeracy Day website https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/numeracyday/big-number-natter)