Math Mistakes to Avoid #1

Varig Flight 254

We’ve all made maths mistakes: wrong sign, mixed-up digits, maybe swapped a bearing on a trig question. Usually, the worst consequence is losing a mark, not getting lost over the Amazon rainforest. But in 1988, a single mathematical slip did send a plane dramatically off course and it shows how unforgiving numbers can be in the real world.

The Mistake that Started it All

Varig Flight 254 was travelling across Brazil. The pilots received a compass bearing of 027° for the first leg. Simple enough except the captain accidentally read it as 270°. Think about that on a compass:

• 027° is almost north-east

• 270° is due west

That’s basically the aviation equivalent of being told to turn right and instead doing a full left turn across traffic. With one misread number, the plane flew hundreds of kilometres in the wrong direction, deep into the Amazon. The crew had no proper navigation data, fuel ran dangerously low, and eventually the plane crash-landed in the jungle. Out of 54 passengers, 13 died. This was an awful tragedy caused by a mathematical error that started with two digits being flipped.

The Takeaway

You will absolutely make mistakes in maths. Everyone does. Even trained professionals. But the mistake you make on your HSC practice questions isn’t going to send anyone off course. What matters is building the habit of slowing down, checking units, reading instructions carefully, and thinking about what your answers mean.

Transcription errors, like the pilot made, are not penalised on the HSC exam unless they make the question easier. They usually make the question harder, so double check anything you copy down from the question before answering it.

So next time you mix up a bearing or drop a negative sign, don’t stress. You’re practising the same skills professionals rely on but just in a much safer setting.