Can you do the maths to join F1 Williams

[crichton]

Alex Burns, the chief executive of the Formula 1 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/) company, which is racing in the Indian Grand Prix (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/9637654/Indian-Grand-Prix-2012-Sebastian-Vettel-powers-to-pole-position-in-New-Delhi-as-Red-Bull-lock-out-front-row-again.html), said he was alarmed and surprised that most 16 to 18 year-olds keen to work for the company could not do basic maths sums (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/maths-reform/) and had failed to reach a 50pc score on a range of practical tests.

This is the maths test is

1. 44 + 12 + 35 = ?
2. 735 - 576 = ?
3. 7523 x 8 = ?
4. 7713 / 9 = ?
5. 2 + 3 = ?
6. Write 0.3 as a fraction
7. The square of 7 is = ?
8. The cube of 2 is = ?
9. What is 11pc of 250 = ?
10. Increase 64 by 12.5pc = ?
11. Find the value of x2 + 2xy + y2 where x = 6 and y = -3
12. 5/16 / 1/8 = ?
13. If log 3 = 0.4771 and log 4 = 0.6020, log 40 = ?
14. If log 3 = 0.4771 and log 4 = 0.6020, log 0.12 = ?
15. The cube root of 27 is = ?

To read the full article - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9638334/Williams-F1-struggling-to-find-recruits-with-maths-skills.html


(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9638334/Williams-F1-struggling-to-find-recruits-with-maths-skills.html)

[Tugmistress]

Well i am ashamed to say i only got 9 right, and i got a O'level B in Maths :(

[Gronnuck]

Sorry - any more than ten and I have to take my shoes off.

[Invisible]

SEVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - I forgot how to divide

[RecQuery]

Fairly straightforward, 15 out of 15 in just under 5 minutes without the use of calculator (which certain people seem to think is evil incarnate). I'd imagine some might not be familiar with logarithms and possibly the algebra question. Even if you didn't know it all beforehand though I'd assume they have an example/revision test or a list of things you need to know before taking the actual test. Knowing an answer/formula/algorithm by rote isn't as important as the ability to research, find it out and correctly apply it.

This strikes me as more masturbatory, handwringing, confirmation bias, things-were-better-in-my-day stuff - then again it is the Telegraph. I'm reserving judgment until more about the corporate culture, apprenticeships and recruitment procedures are known.

EDIT: 15 out of 15. Seems I feel foul of an internet law regarding these sort of things.

[Alrock]

Fairly straightforward, 14 out of 14...

Fail... You can't even count, there's 15 questions, not 14...

13 out of 15 for me with no calculator, never done logs (except the ones you burn), thing of the past by the time I was at school.

[linnie612]

Only 11 out of the 15 for me - anyone do it within the two minute time limit?