CD-ROM support & FAQs

This page answers your questions and gives details of support for the CD-ROMs. Section (1) relates to both CD-ROMs, section (2) is just about the Problem Pictures CD-ROM, and section (3) is about the Problem Pictures Themes CD-ROM.

(1) About both Problem Pictures CD-ROMs

How can I obtain technical support?

If you have problems using the CD-ROMs please first check the questions and answers on this page. If you cannot find an answer here, send an email to support@problempictures.co.uk giving full details. We regret we cannot offer any advice about installing the CD-ROMs on a network.

What is the difference between the two CD-ROMs? Do they contain different photographs?

Problem Pictures has 184 photographs and Problem Pictures Themes has 300 photographs. The photographs on the two CD-ROMs are different apart from five pictures which are duplicated. The two collections are similar in approach but, as its name suggests, Problem Pictures Themes has a larger proportion of pictures grouped into themes or topics.

Both discs are now available in editions that run in a web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox). This makes it easy to copy and paste photos and text into other applications. These browser editions run on PCs, Macs, Linux or any computer with a web browser. Problem Pictures is also still available in its PC only edition.

If you want to order only one of the discs, it is suggested that you begin with the Problem Pictures disc. However, if your interest is in superimposing graphs on photographs go for Problem Pictures Themes.

Mathematical World is the American edition of Problem Pictures. The same 184 photos appear on these CD-ROMs. At present, there is no American edition of Problem Pictures Themes and customers in America may order this directly from Badsey publications.

May we order the discs 'on approval'?

We regret we cannot send out the discs on approval.

Why don't you exhibit at the BETT show and similar events?

Exhibiting at the BETT show is very expensive and is simply outside our budget as a small publisher. We often exhibit at the ATM, MA, MEI, and NANAMIC conferences, among others. We also try to support regional events in the UK when invited.

Can I buy the CD-ROMs outside the United Kingdom?

See the How to order page for details of how to order in other countries. Key Curriculum Press have published an American version of the Problem Pictures CD-ROM entitled Mathematical World.

What upgrades are available for site licence holders?

Please note we are changing the rules on upgrades.

Until 31 July 2008 site licence holders may claim free upgrades. To receive an upgrade, send us an email, letter or fax including these details: the name of the disc for which you have the site licence, the name and full postal address of your institution, and the name of the company from whom you purchased the site licence. The upgrade will be posted to you free of charge. Holders of site licences purchased from AAMT may be able to claim this upgrade from AAMT.

From 1 August 2008 free upgrades are no longer available. As a site licence holder, you must purchase a single user copy of the disc to obtain the latest version. Your site licence then automatically covers this new version. Please note that separate site licences are needed for Problem Pictures and Problem Pictures Themes.

How can I combine the two CD-ROMs into one application?

This is easy to do if you have site licences for both CD-ROMs. Make sure you have both the 2006 edition of Problem Picture Themes and the 2007 edition of 'Disc 2 for site licence holders' for Problem Pictures.Then just follow the instructions included on 'Disc 2 for site licence holders'.

I am a teacher with a single user copy. May I use it in my classroom?

A teacher who purchases a single user copy may reproduce material from the disc for use in his or her classroom. At any time, the disc must not be running on more than one computer. If you want to run it on several computers at the same time, or place it on a school network, your school must purchase a site licence.

Can I use the disc to make my own worksheets and acetates?

Teachers will find it easy to use the photographs and text to make their own display material, worksheets and acetates. A teacher who purchases a single user copy may reproduce material from the disc for use in his or her classroom. A site licence allows use throughout the school or college.

The photographs are stored on the discs as 1365 x 1024 jpeg files which can be imported into a wide range of software and printed. On A4 paper these give a resolution of 123 pixels/inch, and on A3 paper, 87 pixels/inch.

How can I upgrade from a single user copy to a site licence?

If you have already purchased a single user copy, you can upgrade to a site licence by paying the difference in the cost. There are more details on the Badsey Publications website.

We have a site licence and are planning a training day in a local teachers' centre. May we temporarily install the software on their server?

Yes this is permitted on these conditions: (1) that the software does not remain on an external server for more than 4 weeks in any year, (2) that you are responsible for ensuring the software is deleted after use, and (3) that the majority of people using the software are staff or students from your institution. If you want to use it in other ways, please check with us first.

Are the montage videos on the Problem Pictures discs available in other formats?

The video included on the Problem Pictures disc is for an 800 x 600 screen size. A larger 1280 x 1024 version of this is available free of charge to site licence holders. The video on the 2006 edition of Problem Pictures Themes disc is for both 800 x 600 and 1280 x 1024 screen sizes. All these versions run in MS Windows only. For Mac users, the 2006 edition of Problem Pictures Themes has a Flash version of the 800 x 600 video.

Are you interested in suggestions for future Problem Pictures?

Yes please! If there are types of photographs you would find useful for mathematics teaching, do please let us know and we will try to include them in future publications. We also welcome comments on how the material is presented on the discs. The easiest way to contact us is to email support@problempictures.co.uk

Can you publish my photographs?

Unfortunately we are too small an organisation to take on the publication of photographs by other people. But we recognise that a number of people are doing interesting and innovative work in this area. If you are someone who takes photographs to support the teaching and understanding of mathematics, try to make them available. One possibility is to publish them on a website. If you let us know the website address, we will link to it.

We run an RM CC3 network. Can we install the CD-ROMs?

The original Problem Pictures CD-ROM is launched from a .exe program and so you should be able to install it. The Problem Pictures Themes CD-ROM runs in any web browser. It is launched from an index.htm file. We would be surprised if this could not be installed as well but we cannot guarantee it. The same is true of the alternative web browser edition of the original Problem Pictures CD-ROM. The CD-ROMs do not use MSI (windows installer package) or similar installer packages.

(2) About the Problem Pictures CD-ROM

Problem Pictures is advertised as suitable for the '9 to 16' age range but on the disc it says '11 to 16'. Which is correct?

When the disc was published we suggested 'students in the 11 to 16 age group, although some activities could be tackled by younger and older students'. Since publication, we know a large number of primary teachers use the disc successfully. As a result we have modified the age range to '9 to 16'.

Some primary schools ask which of the two discs is more suitable. Usually we advise that you begin with the Problem Pictures disc.

Does the disc include solutions?

For each photograph there is a second page giving hints, solutions and extensions.

Which of the two Problem Pictures editions should I order?

We suggest you order the original, PC-only edition unless one of these applies -

• You want to run the disc on a Mac or a Linux machine,
• You particularly want a version that runs in a web browser,
• You want a version which has a similar interface to Problem Pictures Themes,

- in which case, you should order the web browser edition.

Site licence holders receive both versions.

What extra resources are available for site licence holders?

Problem Pictures site licence holders are permitted to run both editions of Problem Pictures: the 2002 edition for PC only and the 2007 web browser edition. On the disc with the web browser edition are some other resources that let you -

• Hide the MORE buttons in the original PC-only edition,
• Combine Problem Pictures and Problem Pictures Themes into one application (you will need a site licence for both versions to do this),
• Run the montage video in a number of different formats.

I use the PC-only edition and want to bookmark some pictures. How can I prepare it on my machine at home and transfer it to the one at work? Where are the bookmarks saved? Also, is there an easy way of changing the order once saved?  

The bookmarks are stored in a file called P_Pics.bmk on your hard disc. Use file search to find the location of this file on your computer.

If you copy this file from your home computer into the equivalent directory on your work computer, the bookmarks should transfer across. Unfortunately, there seems to be no easy way of editing the order of the bookmarks.

Corrections

(These corrections have been made to the 2007 web browser edition.)

A photograph showing Islamic knot patterns (A76) is upside down. We apologise for this.

The captions with the lampshade (K01) suggest the shadow is a parabola but it is probably a hyperbola. The explanation makes more sense if 'hyperbola' is substituted for 'parabola' throughout.

On the subject of bolts that are difficult to undo (D56), a rhombus shaped bolt could be undone with a conventional spanner (wrench). A kite-shaped quadrilateral would be more difficult to undo.

Credits. The correct spelling should be Keith Birkinshaw - sorry Keith!

(3) About the Problem Pictures Themes CD-ROM

Does this run on Macs?

The 2006 edition of Problem Pictures Themes runs on both Macs, PCs and any computer with a web browser. Earlier problems have now been put right.

Where are the answers?

The 2006 edition of Problem Pictures Themes includes hints and solutions for most of the photographs. Read the Introduction page for details.

What is new about the 2006 edition?

The number of photographs has increased from 200 to 300. Most photographs now have a second page giving hints and solutions. Site licence holders may block access to these pages if they wish. The disc now runs on Macs as well as PCs. Published April 2006.

What software do I need to superimpose graphs on photos?

There is no plotting software on the Problem Pictures Themes disc but it is easy to copy photos and paste them into other applications. We understand that the following packages are suitable for the modelling activity where the graph of an equation is superimposed on a photo -

• Autograph 3.2 or later
• Geometer's Sketchpad version 4 or later
• Cabri Geometry version 2 or later
• Derive version 6.1 or later

We would welcome corrections and additions to this list.

How do I run the Flash video?

Unfortunately, the performance of the Flash video on different computers is unpredictable. But these points may help. You need to have Macromedia Flash Player installed on your computer. Open the video folder and double click on 'PP_Flex_Themes_800.html'. Safety features on your web browser may ask you if you really want to run it - say yes.

When the title page appears, it invites you to press 1, 2 or 3 to go to the different sections of the video. If nothing happens after pressing a key, trying clicking your mouse in the middle of the title page and then try pressing a key. You may want to turn on sound to hear the music soundtrack.

What is Maths Gallery?

Maths Gallery is a selection of materials taken from Problem Pictures Themes which some UK schools received free of charge during 2005. Maths Gallery cannot be purchased and it is not distributed outside the United Kingdom. Badsey Publications regrets it cannot offer support or advice on using Maths Gallery. Please note Maths Gallery is not in the public domain and unauthorised copies should not be distributed.

Corrections

In the 'Information and Activities' for U-Shaped Curves it is stated the shadows from the lampshade are parabolas. In fact they are hyperbolas.