Vault Times — Maths in the news

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Our pick of the day for numbers, data and context — the rest of the edition follows by section.

National (UK) · HuffPost UK

What You Need To Know About Andy Burnham's Drive To End Rough Sleeping

A homeless man sleeps on a street in a shopping district in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. Andy Burnham has insisted the UK “can fix” rough sleeping after unveiling new funding to meant to help reduce homelessness. The government is hoping to deliver on the very first pledge the prime minister ever made o…

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Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Andy Burnham says the UK “can fix” rough sleeping and has announced new funding. If the new funding is £12 million and is split equally between 8 areas, how much does each area get?

Your answer

A rough sleeper count found 45 people sleeping rough in one London district. If 20% of them are helped into accommodation, how many people is that?

Your answer

The article says the government hopes to deliver on the prime minister’s very first pledge about rough sleeping. Write one sentence explaining why a charity might want to check the actual number of people sleeping rough before and after the funding.

Your answer

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National (UK)

Headlines from UK-wide outlets: general news and analysis.

National (UK) · YouGov

Most young people now watch TV and movies with the subtitles on

Of the whole public, three in ten typically have the subtitles on

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

If three in ten of the whole public typically have subtitles on, what fraction of the public is that, in simplest form?

Your answer

A survey of 40 young people found 32 watch TV and movies with subtitles on. What percentage is that?

Your answer

If 30% of a group of 250 people typically have subtitles on, how many people is that?

Your answer

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National (UK) · YouGov

Donation drivers: What motivates people to give to charity – and what puts them off?

YouGov research explores why people in the UK give, what stops them donating and what could encourage future giving.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A YouGov survey asks 2,000 UK adults about giving to charity. If 1,150 say they have donated in the past year, what percentage is that?

Your answer

In a survey of 500 people, 3 in 5 say they would give more if they trusted a charity more. How many people is that?

Your answer

A charity receives £240 in donations and spends 15% on admin. How much is left for its cause?

Your answer

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Statistics

Polling, surveys, trackers and data-led public opinion pieces.

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Global

International and world news.

Global · The Guardian — World

How Lula beat far-right Bolsonaro in Brazil – The Latest

Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a historic fourth term as president, defeating the far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in a dramatic comeback.Lula is the first candidate to win a runoff election after losing in the first round, taking victory with 51.79% of the vote to his rival’s 48.21%. His win bucks a…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Lula won 51.79% of the vote and his rival 48.21%. By how many percentage points did Lula win?

Your answer

If 51.79% of votes went to Lula, what percentage went to all other candidates combined?

Your answer

Lula's win is described as a fourth term. If each term is 4 years, how many years would four full terms be?

Your answer

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Global · The Guardian — World

UK poised to miss reduced aid spending target of 0.3% of national income

Calculations from the Center for Global Development say spending next year is likely to be £410m less than anticipatedThe UK is on course to miss its target of spending 0.3% of national income on international aid by an estimated £400m by the end of next year.Calculations from the Center for Global Development (CGD)…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The UK aims to spend 0.3% of national income on aid. If national income is £2.8 trillion, what is 0.3% of it?

Your answer

Spending is expected to be £410m less than anticipated. Write £410m in pounds in standard form.

Your answer

If the shortfall is about £400m and the target is 0.3% of national income, roughly what percentage of the target is the shortfall when the target is £8.4bn?

Your answer

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Global · The Guardian — World

Chinese markets lose trillions as race for AI supremacy with US takes its toll

Lack of profits and the threat posed by western countries are raising concern about the sustainability of Beijing’s AI boomTrillions of dollars have been wiped from China’s stock markets in recent months amid increasing anxiety about the future of artificial intelligence, as Beijing races against the United States f…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article says trillions of dollars have been wiped from China’s stock markets. If $2 trillion is lost and this is shared equally across 4 million investors, how much is lost per investor?

Your answer

A Chinese AI company’s share price falls from $80 to $60. What is the percentage decrease?

Your answer

The summary mentions a “race for AI supremacy” between China and the US. Using only the snippet, explain why falling share prices might worry investors about China’s AI boom.

Your answer

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Politics

UK and Westminster politics, policy and elections.

Politics · Politics.co.uk

Shabana Mahmood appears to dispute Brexit’s role in small boats crisis

Shabana Mahmood has appeared to dispute Brexit’s contribution to the small boats crisis, telling MPs the UK did not deport more people when it was part of the EU’s asylum arrangements. The home secretary stressed that the EU’s asylum pact was not the answer some suggest, saying returns for countries inside it “are n…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The home secretary said returns for countries inside the EU asylum pact “are not” what some suggest. Using only the snippet, can we state the exact number of people the UK deported while in the EU?

Your answer

The article mentions the UK being part of the EU’s asylum arrangements. If a claim says the UK deported more people then, what would a fair test be?

Your answer

Write one sentence explaining why the home secretary’s comment is a comparison between two arrangements.

Your answer

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Politics · Politics.co.uk

The devastating Local Housing Allowance freeze must end

Renters of all ages deserve access to a secure and affordable home, and Local Housing Allowance (LHA) can help with this by providing financial support to help with rent. LHA is the mechanism which determines how much Housing Benefit you receive depending on where you live in the country. Originally, it covered the …

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Local Housing Allowance helps with rent. If a renter's LHA is £120 per week, how much is that over 4 weeks?

Your answer

A tenant's rent is £950 a month but LHA only covers £700. What is the monthly shortfall?

Your answer

If LHA is frozen at £110 per week for a year (52 weeks), what is the total support over the year?

Your answer

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Politics · Politics.co.uk

Polling guru John Curtice cautions Burnham over early election ‘gamble’

Sir John Curtice has warned that calling an early general election would be “a gamble” for Andy Burnham, even with Labour ahead in the polls. The polling expert said a lead of around seven points might still not be enough to deliver a House of Commons majority. Burnham’s efforts to rule out an early election […] The…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

John Curtice says a poll lead of around seven points might still not be enough for a Commons majority. If Labour is on 40% and the next party is 7 points behind, what percentage is the next party on?

Your answer

A poll of 1,500 voters puts Labour 7 points ahead. If the poll has a margin of error of ±3 points, what is the range for Labour’s lead?

Your answer

Curtice calls an early election “a gamble”. Write one sentence explaining what “a gamble” means in this context.

Your answer

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Environment & science

Climate, nature, energy and science stories.

Environment & science · BBC — Science & environment

New weather warnings as third storm set to hit Scotland

The country is braced for the third storm in as many days as communities continue to clean up after the weekend.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

If storms hit on three consecutive days, and the third storm arrives on a Wednesday, on which day did the first storm arrive?

Your answer

A community clears 3/5 of the debris on day one and 1/4 of the remainder on day two. What fraction of the original debris is left?

Your answer

If the third storm is the third in as many days, how many days does that span from the first storm to the third?

Your answer

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Environment & science · BBC — Science & environment

'Safety first' as wedding guests stranded on island after Storm Boelo

Wedding guests at an island in County Fermanagh were left stranded due to the storm.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Wedding guests were stranded on an island in County Fermanagh after Storm Boelo. If 48 guests were stranded and 3/4 were rescued by boat, how many remained?

Your answer

A storm caused a 2-hour delay to a ferry crossing that normally takes 90 minutes. What was the total journey time?

Your answer

If 60 wedding guests were on the island and 45 were stranded overnight, what fraction were stranded? Give it in simplest form.

Your answer

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Environment & science · BBC — Science & environment

Part of Antarctica named after former BBC science correspondent

A stretch of water in the west of the continent is now called the Amos Channel after the ex-BBC journalist.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A stretch of water in west Antarctica is named the Amos Channel after a former BBC science correspondent. If the channel is 120 km long and a research ship travels at 15 km/h, how long does it take to travel its length?

Your answer

The Amos Channel is part of a region measuring 2,400 km². If 15% of this region is surveyed, what area is surveyed?

Your answer

Explain why naming a channel after a science correspondent might help the public learn about Antarctica.

Your answer

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Sport

Sport news (including football).

Sport · The Guardian — Football

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Bournemouth’s transfer nous puts United to shame, Araújo is winning admirers at Anfield and Suzuki adapts swiftly at VillaThe three Bournemouth goalscorers cost a combined £85m, joining from Vasco da Gama, Middlesbrough, and Porto. The Cherries are smart at investing, far more so than Manchester United, who have was…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Three Bournemouth goalscorers cost a combined £85m. What was their mean cost?

Your answer

If the three players cost £85m in total and one cost £25m, what did the other two cost altogether?

Your answer

Bournemouth’s three scorers cost £85m combined. If Manchester United spent £85m on one player, how does that compare?

Your answer

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Sport · BBC Sport

Fighters exploited & forgotten in failing system - Smith

Fighters are being "hurt, exploited or forgotten" in a failing system, says former boxer Paul Smith, who has criticised a lack of support for athletes.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Paul Smith says fighters are being 'hurt, exploited or forgotten'. If a boxer earns £2,400 from a fight but pays 30% in fees, how much is left?

Your answer

A fighter has 12 wins and 4 losses. What is the win ratio as a fraction in simplest form?

Your answer

If 5 out of 20 fighters surveyed said they received no support, what percentage is that?

Your answer

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Sport · BBC Sport

Kane prematurely announced as Ballon d'Or winner - but he wasn't only one

Harry Kane's dream of winning the Ballon d'Or came true on Monday, but a few hours earlier organisers prematurely released an article claiming he had clinched the award.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Harry Kane was prematurely announced as Ballon d’Or winner. If the article was released 3 hours before the official announcement at 20:00, at what time was it released?

Your answer

Kane scored 36 goals in 45 matches. What is his goals-per-match rate, to 2 decimal places?

Your answer

The article says Kane “wasn’t only one” prematurely announced. Suggest one reason why releasing an article early could be a problem.

Your answer

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Local & regional

City and regional papers across the UK.

Local & regional · Birmingham Mail

Inside 'desolate' Dudley where traders earn just £60 a day amid empty shops

Dudley, a market town formerly hailed as a glittering hotspot of the 1970s, is now described as a "desolate slum" blighted by antisocial behaviour — with even local councillors admitting it is "falling apart and ruined".

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Traders in Dudley earn just £60 a day. How much is that over a 5-day trading week?

Your answer

If a trader earns £60 a day, how many days would it take to earn £900?

Your answer

Dudley is described as a former 1970s hotspot now ‘desolate’. Write one sentence comparing the past and present using the snippet.

Your answer

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Local & regional · The Scotsman — News

Why a do little budget puts our country in peril - Brian Monteith

This budget should not be about preparing for an election

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A headline says a 'do little budget' puts the country in peril. If a budget of £50bn is described as 'do little' and only £5bn is new spending, what percentage is new?

Your answer

If a budget proposes cutting a tax from 20% to 18%, what is the percentage point reduction?

Your answer

A budget plans to spend £30bn on public services and £10bn on tax cuts. What is the ratio of public services spending to tax cuts in simplest form?

Your answer

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Local & regional · Manchester Evening News

Eddie Howe would be a brilliant Manchester United appointment if Michael Carrick is sacked

Eddie Howe is a candidate to replace Michael Carrick at Man United if the head coach is sacked, a prospect many supporters are uneasy about.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Eddie Howe is a candidate to replace Michael Carrick if Carrick is sacked. If a poll of 800 Man United supporters finds 45% are uneasy about Howe, how many supporters is that?

Your answer

If Howe has won 12 of his last 20 matches, what is his win percentage?

Your answer

The summary says “many supporters are uneasy” about Howe replacing Carrick. Write one sentence explaining what “uneasy” suggests about their opinion.

Your answer

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