Many students in the UK are currently sitting their maths GCSE exams - facing tough questions that even parents would struggle to answer. According to recent research, only 42 per cent of pupils believe their parents would be capable of successfully taking exams if they were to do so today.
Meanwhile, 30 per cent of students claim that their parents are unable to answer exam questions when approached for assistance. This comes just months after Prime Minister set up a review of the teaching of maths in England, saying the country has an "anti-maths mindset" holding the economy back.
The review could result in students studying maths for the entirety of secondary school and sixth form. But not everyone would be forced to take it as an A-Level.
The search comes from SaveMyExams, which, along with the figures, shared a hard GCSE maths problem for parents to tackle. A massive 92 per cent said they didn't know the answer, while only eight per cent even gave it a go.
Can you solve the problem?
The question shows a shape with all measurements set out in centimetres. Underneath, it states: "The area of the shape is A cm². Show that A=2x²=24x=46."
SaveMyExams maths lead Lucy Kirkham says not to be sacred at the problem and advises breaking it up into manageable chunks. Ms Kirkham added: "Seeing questions with loads of algebra can be scary but breaking them down into smaller chunks will help you work through them more easily."
"Don't let it worry you, just try to start with the first step and you'll surprise yourself with how far you can get! Even if you don't get all the way through, marks are awarded for different stages of your working..."
Did you manage to solve it? If so, you're in the minority. Check out the answer below provided by SaveMyExams.
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In the decade following 2009, the UK has risen 10 places in the international league tables. However Britain remains one of the least numerate countries in the 38-member Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
