Fight deforestation

Math can be a powerful ally in the battle against climate change. Forests are like the earth’s lungs, and every tree plays a part in balancing our atmosphere. But how do we measure the impact of deforestation or afforestation on climate change? Enter the world of mathematical models. These aren’t your everyday calculations. They help us simulate and analyse complex relationships, offering a deep dive into scenarios that explore the effects of changes in forest cover on our environment. So, every equation solved is akin to unveiling secrets that forests hold, empowering us to make data-driven decisions for a greener, healthier planet.

Students today are faced with the unique challenge of learning amidst serious impacts of climate change. As our planet experiences more frequent and severe weather events, rising temperatures, and ecological disruptions, students are increasingly aware of the urgent need for environmental stewardship and sustainability education. That’s why the PISA assessment tests for applied mathematical knowledge—it’s the ability to apply what students learn in the classroom to the real world that will prepare them to face challenges like climate change head on!

This question tests the ability of students to formulate. Formulating situations mathematically means recognising and identifying opportunities to use mathematics, and then providing mathematical structure to a problem presented in some contextualised form, including reasoning about the constraints and assumptions in the problem.

This is a level 4 question. At Level 4, students can work effectively with explicit models for complex, concrete situations that may involve constraints or call for making assumptions. They can select and integrate different representations, including symbolic representations, linking them directly to aspects of real-world situations. Students at this level can utilise their limited range of skills and can reason with some insight in straightforward contexts, and construct and communicate explanations based on their interpretations, arguments and actions.

18% of PISA participants got this one right.

Geospatial analytics uses mathematical algorithms and satellite data to accurately track and monitor deforestation in real-time. These mathematical models can predict where deforestation is likely to occur, allowing for proactive intervention. Mathematics can also help optimise the placement of reforestation to ensure that limited resources are used most effectively!