Mathematics

What is mathematics and statistics about?

Kei hopu tōu ringa ki te aka tāepa,
engari kia mau ki te aka matua.

Mathematics is the exploration and use of patterns and relationships in quantities, space, and time. Statistics is the exploration and use of patterns and relationships in data. These two disciplines are related but have different ways of thinking and solving problems. Both equip students with effective means for investigating, interpreting, explaining, and making sense of the world in which they live.

Mathematicians and statisticians use symbols, graphs, and diagrams to help them find and communicate patterns and relationships, and they create models to represent both real-life and hypothetical situations. These situations are drawn from a wide range of social, cultural, scientific, technological, health, environmental, and economic contexts.  It is through mathematics we help make great citizens. It is the front end of the curriculum that is actually most important and as Math teachers we develop all this in the context of mathematics and statistics.