Megamaths (1996)
Megamaths is an Educational programme about Maths that originally aired on BBC2 between 1996 and 2001. Each episode was 20 minutes long and was written by Maths Television Presenter Simon Davies. Other people that have been in the series are Liz Crowther and Annee Blott. Between 1996 and 1999 it was presented in a castle where there were the four card suites and jokers. There were two gargoyles at the front of the castle who spoke in rhyme. After megamaths ran for 3 series they decided to stop the castle idea and two presenters presented in a studio.
-
Episode 1 - Two Times
Release Date: 1996-09-16This episode introduces the concept of the times sign for multiplying, and the two times table. To celebrate the invention of the times sign by the Kings, the Queen of Spades makes a two times table banner in their new counting house for the Two cards. Suit Animation - 6 Spades - 3 x 2, 2 x 3, 6 x 1
-
Episode 2 - Five Times
Release Date: 1996-09-23The pack of playing card characters on Table Mountain dance and sing their way through the five times table. As usual, the Jack of Clubs is found wanting in his mathematical skills, and the Queen of Spades works out the wages for the number five cards.
-
Episode 3 - Ten Times
Release Date: 1996-09-30The Ace of Diamonds has to do some fast thinking when the Kings demand more buttons on their waistcoats, and the Queen of Diamonds works out the cost of them.
-
Episode 4 - Three Times
Release Date: 1996-10-07The Queen of Hearts gets more than she bargains for when she tries to buy something to wear for her husband, the King of Hearts, but finds that the 3 cards' stall at the courtyard sale only sells things in sets of 3. The King of Hearts in the counting house with the help of the Jackie of Spades works out how much the number cards raised in the courtyard sale. The 7 cards raised 21 pennies for the castle cleaning department and the 8 cards raised 24 pennies for the castle garden.
-
Episode 5 - Six Times
Release Date: 1996-10-14The lively series to help children learn their tables continues with the six times table. A soup for six poses some problems for the Jack of Clubs.
-
Episode 6 - Nine Times
Release Date: 1996-10-28The series to help children learn their tables features the nine times table. Interesting number patterns emerge at the Queen of Diamond's birthday party.
-
Episode 7 - Four Times
Release Date: 1996-11-04The series to help children learn their tables continues with the four times table. The carpenter's workshop is the scene of the drama as the four kings' demands for chairs and tables requires some quick mental arithmetic.
-
Episode 8 - Eight Times
Release Date: 1996-11-11The Jackie of Diamonds and the 8 cards are trying to make a multiple pie – all the ingredients must be in multiples of 8. But the 8 of Diamonds is ill and the Ace of Diamonds from Ace Catering is sent to take her place, with disastrous results. The Jackie of Diamonds asks the King of Hearts in the counting house if he with the help of the Jackie of Spades could make a chart showing all the multiples of 8.
-
Episode 9 - Seven Times
Release Date: 1996-11-18Series helping children learn their times tables. The absence of the seven times table banner in the counting house causes problems.
-
Episode 10 - Big Numbers
Release Date: 1996-11-25The castle residents are off on holiday, but it is going to take some big multiplication to work out how much of everything they need to take with them. So the Jack of Clubs speaks to the King of Hearts who is at the counting house with the Jackie of Spades through the speaking tube if he could use the Times Machine. The Ace Mechanic of Spades fixes the Times Machine for the King of Hearts and he uses it to multiply for the 3 cards 420 by 4 packed lunches. But then the Times Machine is soon destroyed for good after the King of Hearts gets carried away and tries to multiply 5,000,000 by 50,000,000,000.