Video List

problem

The best card trick?

Age

11 to 16

Challenge level

Time for a little mathemagic! Choose any five cards from a pack and show four of them to your partner. How can they work out the fifth?

problem

Take three from five

Age

11 to 16

Challenge level

Caroline and James pick sets of five numbers. Charlie tries to find three that add together to make a multiple of three. Can they stop him?

problem

Cyclic quad jigsaw

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

A picture is made by joining five small quadrilaterals together to make a large quadrilateral. Is it possible to draw a similar picture if all the small quadrilaterals are cyclic?

problem

Amazing card trick

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

How is it possible to predict the card?

problem

Seven squares - group-worthy task

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Choose a couple of the sequences. Try to picture how to make the next, and the next, and the next... Can you describe your reasoning?

problem

Factorising with multilink

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Can you find out what is special about the dimensions of rectangles you can make with squares, sticks and units?

problem

Always a multiple?

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Think of a two digit number, reverse the digits, and add the numbers together. Something special happens...

problem

Whirlyball

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

Whirl a conker around in a horizontal circle on a piece of string. What is the smallest angular speed with which it can whirl?

problem

Method in multiplying madness?

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

Watch our videos of multiplication methods that you may not have met before. Can you make sense of them?

article

Symmetric tangles

The tangles created by the twists and turns of the Conway rope trick are surprisingly symmetrical. Here's why!

problem

Ace, two, three...

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Can you picture how to order the cards to reproduce Charlie's card trick for yourself?

problem

Twisting and turning

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Take a look at the video and try to find a sequence of moves that will untangle the ropes.

problem

The invertible trefoil

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

When is a knot invertible ?

problem

Impossible square?

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

Can you make a square from these triangles?

problem

Impossible triangles?

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

Which of these triangular jigsaws are impossible to finish?

problem

Galley division

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Can you explain how Galley Division works?

problem

Strike it out

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.

problem

Speedy summations

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

Watch the video to see how to add together an arithmetic sequence of numbers efficiently.

page

Modular origami polyhedra

These models have appeared around the Centre for Mathematical Sciences. Perhaps you would like to try to make some similar models of your own.

article

Kingsfield School - building on rich starting points

Alf and Tracy explain how the Kingsfield School maths department use common tasks to encourage all students to think mathematically about key areas in the curriculum.

problem

Drawing Celtic knots

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Here is a chance to create some Celtic knots and explore the mathematics behind them.

page

Turning the place over

As part of Liverpool08 European Capital of Culture there were a huge number of events and displays. One of the art installations was called "Turning the Place Over". Can you find our how it works?

project

How many?

This project challenges you to work out the number of cubes hidden under a cloth. What questions would you like to ask?

page

Jo Boaler explains complex instruction

A video clip of Jo Boaler talking about Complex Instruction.

problem

Dotty six

Age

5 to 11

Challenge level

Dotty Six is a simple dice game that you can adapt in many ways.

problem

Bryony's triangle

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Watch the video to see how to fold a square of paper to create a flower. What fraction of the piece of paper is the small triangle?

article

Take one example

This article introduces the idea of generic proof for younger children and illustrates how one example can offer a proof of a general result through unpacking its underlying structure.

problem

Constructing triangles

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

Generate three random numbers to determine the side lengths of a triangle. What triangles can you draw?

game

James's code challenge

Age

7 to 18

Challenge level

The Enigma Project's James Grime has created a video code challenge. Watch it here!

Or search by topic

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Geometry and measure

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Advanced mathematics

For younger learners

The best card trick?

Take three from five

Cyclic quad jigsaw

Amazing card trick

Seven squares - group-worthy task

Factorising with multilink

Always a multiple?

Whirlyball

Method in multiplying madness?

Symmetric tangles

Ace, two, three...

Twisting and turning

The invertible trefoil

Impossible square?

Impossible triangles?

Galley division

Strike it out

Speedy summations

Modular origami polyhedra

Kingsfield School - building on rich starting points

Drawing Celtic knots

Turning the place over

How many?

Jo Boaler explains complex instruction

Dotty six

Bryony's triangle

Take one example

Constructing triangles

James's code challenge