More or Less: Behind the Stats When are numbers like a horse at a gymkhana?
Oct 16, 2024
Join Chris Mason, BBC's political editor, as he hilariously navigates live math challenges. Mathematician Rob Easterway offers clever tips for mental arithmetic, while Jack Fenwick clarifies myths about the UK's super-rich tax rates. Dan Needle sheds light on the complexities of high-income taxation and its implications. They dive into rising water bills versus industry claims, and discuss the impressive impact of HPV vaccinations on cervical cancer rates, showcasing how statistics shape our understanding of pressing issues.
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Unexpected Math on Air
- Chris Mason had to calculate live on-air how many votes a candidate needed to advance.
- He compared the situation to "a horse at a gymkhana" encountering an unexpected jump.
Rule of 72
- Use the Rule of 72 to quickly estimate doubling times.
- Divide 72 by the growth rate to get the approximate time it takes to double.
Percentage Trick
- Swap percentages to simplify calculations.
- 16% of 25 is the same as 25% of 16 (one-quarter of 16, which equals 4).