Introduction Directed number arithmetic is a form of maths which explores the impact different operations have when added, subtracted, divided and multiplied to and from a number. In this worksheet we’ll explore how the show ‘Gavin and Stacey’ can help us understand the concept of directed number arithmetic.

Questions

1. What is the difference between positive and negative numbers?

2. In ‘Gavin and Stacey’, what is the difference between Gavin in Barry?

3. What does it mean to add a positive number and a negative number together?

4. In ‘Gavin and Stacey’, what does it mean when Gavin says ‘I love you and I subtracted it from the equation’?

5. What does it mean to multiply a positive and a negative number together?

6. According to ‘Gavin and Stacey’, what does it mean when Gavin divides Barry and Stacey’s relationship?

7. What is the purpose of directed number arithmetic?

Answers

1. Positive numbers are larger than zero, while negative numbers are less than zero.

2. Gavin and Barry are contrasting characters in ‘Gavin and Stacey’. Gavin is very caring and romantic and Barry is more blunt and aggressive.

3. Adding a positive number and a negative number together will result in the positive number being subtracted from the negative number.

4. This is a metaphor for Gavin and Stacey’s relationship and the love they share. It means that Gavin’s love for Stacey is so immense that it outweighs any negative aspects of their relationship.

5. When multiplying a positive and a negative number together, the two numbers will cancel each other out and the result will be zero.

6. Gavin divides Barry and Stacey’s relationship when he helps them through their conflicts. He creates a divide between Barry, who is quite argumentative, and Stacey, who is more reasonable.

7. Directed number arithmetic is used to find the effects of operations when they are either added, subtracted, divided or multiplied from a number, allowing us to understand the impact of different operations on a number.