Rosetta code 2
Encode and decode communications signals
From founding communications, such as the fire beacon, to being able to communicate with space, there is no denying that developments in communication have advanced at a rapid speed. This topic presents students with communications of the past, present and future, helping them to understand the principles that form the basis for these developments.
Activity info, teachers' notes and curriculum links
An engaging activity introducing students to a mathematical solution to code breaking using a simple substitution code. Students will make a survey using the frequency of letters in English sentences, match up an encoded passage to these frequencies and then apply common sense to make a coherent message from what is decoded.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
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