It looks at first sight like a test of basic geometry: a simple task to work out the angle of a triangle in the way Ancient Egyptians did when building their pyramids. Standard Pythagoras’ theorem.
Look again, however, and it is not so simple. The measurements of the triangle are not exact. To reach the answer you must draw upon three different branches of mathematics.
This is the first glimpse of a new style of exam question that will feature in redesigned maths GCSEs, for which teenagers will start preparing next year.
There will be a heavy emphasis on problem-solving, requiring candidates to draw together a range of concepts and apply them to reach an answer. While the level of maths is intended to be…