Question

The Clyde Tunnel, which passes beneath the River Clyde in Glasgow, is 762 m long. 93 fire engines can fit end to end along its length.

Q. Find the length of one fire engine, in metres, giving your answer to one decimal place?

Here is a student’s attempt at a solution, with the correct numerical result:

762 = 762/93 = 8.2 = length

(a)With reference to good mathematical communication (GMC), describe three aspects of the student’s solution that could be improved. [6] (b) Write out your own solution to this question.

Answer 1

(a) Three aspects of the student's solution that could be improved are:

• Using complete sentences: The student has only given the numerical calculations. The student has not used any sentences explaining what he/she is doing. The student could improve the solution by using complete sentences to explain why he/she is performing the division and why the calculation gives the length of one fire engine.
• Explaining why the answer is correct to one decimal place: The student has directly given the answer correct to one decimal place. The student could improve the solution by showing how the answer is rounded off.
• Using units: The student has not mentioned the unit of the length calculated. The student could improve the solution by explicitly stating that the length is measured in metres.

(b) The length of the Clyde Tunnel = 762 m.

93 fire engines can fit end to end along its length.

Therefore, length of 93 fire engines = length of the Clyde Tunnel = 762 m.

Hence, length of 1 fire engine