This chapter introduces the volume’s central premise that the uneasy relationship between Bloomsbury’s broad influence and perceived elitism is precisely why it continues to gain traction in critical debates. Instead of viewing the group as either radicals or gatekeepers, it is necessary to grapple with Bloomsbury’s imperialist biases and class complacencies at the same time as we resituate the group’s innovative aesthetics, transgressive relationships, and varied involvement in public life in national and global contexts. In response to Raymond Williams’ classic 1980 essay “The Bloomsbury Fraction” – which in considering Bloomsbury’s social position as an upper-class “fraction” settles into a relatively stable description of the group’s form – I propose friction as a more tangible and productive concept to explore Bloomsbury and its lasting contribution to culture.

Uncertainty is a part of everyday life. We live with a range of situations that inherently have an element of uncertainty in them – for example, crossing the road, going on holiday, or making a major purchase – but we often ignore the embedded chance in these activities. Risk is acknowledged in many activities, and much effort is expended in identifying these risks and minimising any potential negative outcomes. In schools, for example, a risk assessment is required prior to any excursion with children. Probability is the strand of mathematics that addresses uncertainty. This chapter explores ideas relating to probability in the mathematics classroom.

This chapter focuses on how numbers are represented according to the grammar of Chinese. The rules governing the usage of basic, ordinal, and multiple numbers are introduced as well as their application in decimals, fractions, and approximations. Several special usages involving different forms of the same numeral are explained.