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) · YouGov

Openness to paid social media features varies by how Britons use social media

YouGov data shows 67% of British social media users would not pay for premium features, but resistance is lower among those using platforms professionally.

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Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

YouGov data shows 67% of British social media users would not pay for premium features. If 300 British social media users are surveyed, how many would you expect to say they would not pay?

Your answer

If 67% would not pay for premium features, what percentage would be willing to pay?

Your answer

The article says resistance to paying is lower among those using platforms professionally. In one sentence, what does this comparison suggest?

Your answer

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National (UK)

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

National (UK) · YouGov

YouGov News Tracker: 6 - 7 September 2026

What is the one news story the British public have heard most about in the last week?

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The YouGov tracker covers 6–7 September 2026. How many days does that sample period span?

Your answer

If the tracker surveyed 2,000 British adults and 42% named the same top story, how many people is that?

Your answer

The tracker asks which news story the public have 'heard most about'. Write one sentence explaining why this is not the same as asking which story they think is most important.

Your answer

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National (UK) · YouGov

Would Britons support reintroducing the two child benefit cap?

61% of Britons say they support reintroducing the cap, though few link the policy to increases in child poverty

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

A poll found 61% of Britons support reintroducing the two child benefit cap. If 2,000 people were surveyed, how many would that be?

Your answer

If 61% support the cap, what percentage do not support it?

Your answer

The summary says 'few link the policy to increases in child poverty'. If 15% of the 61% who support the cap also link it to child poverty, what percentage of all Britons is that?

Your answer

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Statistics

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

Statistics · YouGov

Was Grand Theft Auto’s Netflix reveal event the right vehicle for the juggernaut game franchise?

GTA VI releases this year - but how excited are the public following its big marketing tie-up with Netflix?

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

GTA VI releases this year. If it is released in the 11th month of the year, how many months from the start of the year is that?

Your answer

The article mentions a big marketing tie-up with Netflix. If the game releases this year and the tie-up happened 3 months before release, how many months before the end of the year could that be if release is in November?

Your answer

The headline asks whether the Netflix reveal event was the right vehicle for the franchise. Write one sentence explaining what a “reveal event” is in this context.

Your answer

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Global

International and world news.

Global · The Independent — World

Iran-US war latest: Trump says he has no regrets about starting war after Houthis capture key Red Sea port

The capture could give Iran another potential point of leverage in its war with the US

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article says Houthis captured a key Red Sea port, which could give Iran another point of leverage. If Iran already had 2 points of leverage and this adds 1 more, how many points of leverage would it have in total?

Your answer

The headline mentions a war between Iran and the US. If the war started in 2024 and it is now 2025, how many years has it been ongoing?

Your answer

The article says the capture could give Iran “another potential point of leverage”. In one sentence, what does “leverage” mean in this context?

Your answer

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Global · The Independent — World

Trump makes convention audience swear pledge of allegiance to vote Republican - or go to hell

‘You know what happens if you don't vote? You go to hell, you know that?’ Trump advises Republicans considering staying on the couch in November

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Trump told the audience that if they don't vote, 'you go to hell'. If 60% of a 1,500-strong audience were considering staying on the couch and half of those were persuaded to vote, how many changed their minds?

Your answer

The article mentions Republicans considering staying on the couch in November. If turnout among them rose from 55% to 70%, what is the percentage point increase?

Your answer

Write a short sentence explaining why a pledge of allegiance to vote Republican is not the same as a legally binding commitment.

Your answer

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Global · The Independent — World

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Children among five killed and 67 injured as Putin strikes shopping centre

Russian attack on Pavlohrad took place in broad daylight 'when there were many people on the streets'

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Five people were killed and 67 injured in the attack. What was the total number of casualties?

Your answer

If 5 people were killed, including some children, and the total number of children killed was 2, what fraction of those killed were children?

Your answer

The attack took place in broad daylight 'when there were many people on the streets'. If the shopping centre usually has 500 visitors per hour and the attack lasted 15 minutes, how many people might have been present?

Your answer

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Politics

UK and Westminster politics, policy and elections.

Politics · Sky News — Politics

Why did Burnham choose Israel for his biggest moment yet?

👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article is about Burnham choosing Israel for his biggest moment yet. If this moment happened in the 3rd month of the year, what month is that?

Your answer

The summary mentions a podcast called Electoral Dysfunction. If the podcast has 12 episodes and Burnham’s moment is discussed in 1 of them, what fraction of episodes mention it?

Your answer

The headline asks why Burnham chose Israel for his biggest moment yet. Write one sentence suggesting a possible reason based on the snippet.

Your answer

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Politics · The Guardian — Politics

Ed Stone to elder statesman: the making of Ed Miliband – podcast

The UK foreign secretary has drawn rage and respect after announcing trade sanctions on Israeli settlers. Heather Stewart explains how – and why – Ed Miliband got toughThis time just over a decade ago, Ed Miliband was known for pushing his older brother David out of the way to become leader of the Labour party … onl…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Ed Miliband became Labour leader 'just over a decade ago'. If that was 2010, roughly how many years ago is that from 2026?

Your answer

The podcast discusses trade sanctions on Israeli settlers. If the UK imposes sanctions on 12 individuals and 5 organisations, how many entities in total are sanctioned?

Your answer

Write one sentence explaining what 'from rising star to elder statesman' suggests about how Ed Miliband's reputation has changed.

Your answer

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Politics · BBC News — Politics

Labour mayors in England vow to cap tourist tax at 5%

Reform UK and the Conservatives have criticised plans for the new levy on visitors' overnight stays.

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Labour mayors plan to cap a tourist tax at 5%. If a hotel room costs £120 per night, how much would the tax be?

Your answer

A tourist stays 3 nights at £90 per night. With a 5% tourist tax, what is the total cost including tax?

Your answer

If the tax is capped at 5%, what is the maximum tax on a £200 per night room for a 2-night stay?

Your answer

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Environment & science

Climate, nature, energy and science stories.

Environment & science · The Independent — Climate

NASA wants you to take pictures of clouds – here’s why

The space agency is launching a citizen scientist challenge this month

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

NASA is launching a citizen scientist challenge this month. If the challenge lasts for 4 weeks, how many days is that?

Your answer

If NASA wants people to take pictures of clouds and 500 people each submit 3 pictures, how many pictures are submitted in total?

Your answer

The article says NASA wants you to take pictures of clouds. In one sentence, why might NASA want citizen scientists to help?

Your answer

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Environment & science · The Independent — Climate

There could be no Atlantic hurricanes this year – but there’s a catch

The last time there were no hurricanes during the Atlantic season was before the satellite era

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article says there could be no Atlantic hurricanes this year. If a normal season has 14 named storms and this year has 0, what is the percentage decrease?

Your answer

The last time there were no hurricanes was 'before the satellite era'. If satellites began around 1960 and it is now 2026, how many years is that at least?

Your answer

Write one sentence explaining what the 'catch' might mean when a season has no hurricanes.

Your answer

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Environment & science · The Independent — Climate

Summer was the hottest ever in the US – here are the areas that saw the most drastic increases

Records were smashed from coast to coast – but some places felt the heat more than others

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The US had its hottest summer on record. If the previous record was set in 1936 and this summer was 0.5°C hotter, what was the temperature if the 1936 record was 30°C?

Your answer

Records were smashed 'from coast to coast'. If 48 states are in the contiguous US and 36 broke temperature records, what percentage of states broke records?

Your answer

Some places felt the heat more than others. If one city had an average summer temperature of 28°C and another had 32°C, what is the difference?

Your answer

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Sport

Sport news (including football).

Sport · The Guardian — Sport

Aryna Sabalenka on brink of US Open trifecta after blitzing Jessica Pegula

Sabalenka defeats Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in semi-finalChampion extends US Open winning streak to 19Belarusian faces Rybakina in Saturday’s finalAryna Sabalenka’s grip on the US Open showed no sign of weakening on Thursday night as the two-time defending champion swept past Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to move one win from a thi…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Sabalenka beat Pegula 7-5, 6-2. How many games did Sabalenka win in total across both sets?

Your answer

Sabalenka’s US Open winning streak is now 19. If she wins the final, what will her streak become?

Your answer

Sabalenka faces Rybakina in Saturday’s final. If the final is on Saturday and today is Thursday, how many days until the final?

Your answer

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Sport · The Guardian — Football

Champions League: Bayern break down Bodø/Glimt, Como put four past Leipzig

Bayern Munich 5-0 Bodø/Glimt, Como 4-1 LeipzigLens win 3-2 at Slavia Prague with last-gasp doubleBayern Munich opened their Champions League campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Norway’s Bodo/Glimt.The six-times winners were frustrated before half-time by Bodo/Glimt but cruised once Jamal Musiala smashed in the opener t…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Bayern Munich beat Bodø/Glimt 5-0. What was the goal difference?

Your answer

Como beat Leipzig 4-1. If Como scored 4 goals from 12 shots on target, what fraction of their shots on target became goals?

Your answer

Lens won 3-2 at Slavia Prague with a 'last-gasp double'. If Slavia Prague were leading 2-1 before the double, what was the score after Lens scored twice?

Your answer

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Sport · The Guardian — Sport

Brave new world: Ultimate Championship brings glowing javelins and $10m prize fund to track and field

New event aims to revolutionise the sport with promises of bigger prize money and a greater role for athletesTrack and field’s brave new world begins in Budapest on Friday night. The action will be fast-paced and slick, with augmented reality showing athletes’ win percentages and javelins and hammers that glow, maki…

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The Ultimate Championship has a $10m prize fund. If this is shared equally among 10 events, how much does each event get?

Your answer

If the prize fund is $10m and the exchange rate is £1 = $1.25, what is the prize fund in pounds?

Your answer

The event features glowing javelins. If a javelin glows for 2 minutes and the event lasts 90 minutes, what fraction of the time does it glow?

Your answer

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Local & regional

City and regional papers across the UK.

Local & regional · WalesOnline

Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Friday, September 11)

All of the latest news from across Wales and further afield

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article is a live blog for Friday, 11 September. If updates are posted every 15 minutes from 06:00 to 22:00, how many updates is that in total?

Your answer

The blog covers news from 'across Wales and further afield'. If 3 of every 5 stories are from Wales, what fraction of stories are from further afield?

Your answer

A traffic update says a 40-mile journey is delayed by 25%. How many extra miles of travel time does that represent in distance terms?

Your answer

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Local & regional · WalesOnline

Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Thursday, September 10)

All of the latest news from across Wales and further afield

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

The article is a live blog for Thursday, September 10. If the blog started at 06:00 and the last update was at 21:30, how long did it run?

Your answer

A traffic update says a road closure adds 25 minutes to a 40-minute journey. What is the total journey time?

Your answer

The blog has 12 news items and 8 travel updates. What fraction of the total items are travel updates? Give your answer in simplest form.

Your answer

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Local & regional · Manchester Evening News

The site 'pivotal in shaping Wigan's future'

Westwood Park has been described as 'a new gateway to Wigan town centre'

Classroom maths questions Tailored prompts

Westwood Park is described as 'a new gateway to Wigan town centre'. If the park is 2.5 km from the town centre, how many metres is that?

Your answer

A map shows Westwood Park at a scale of 1:10,000. If the distance on the map from the park to the town centre is 25 cm, what is the real distance in metres?

Your answer

The article says Westwood Park is 'pivotal in shaping Wigan's future'. Write a sentence explaining what 'pivotal' means in this context.

Your answer

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