Developing Systematic Approaches

Current

Developing Systematic Approaches

Mathematicians like to work systematically on a problem rather than approaching it in a random, unstructured way. The tasks in this feature are designed to provoke students to solve them in a systematic manner.

1 Step 2 Step

Stage: 3 Challenge Level:

This problem is inaccessible without looking at simpler cases, and thus helps students to see the value of specialising in order to generalise.

Shady Symmetry

Stage: 3 Challenge Level:

This problem is a good activity for the visualisation of symmetry, and for encouraging students to work systematically.

Sorted live

Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

This problem uses playing cards and video to introduce students to some well-known sorting algorithms.

Odds and Evens Made Fair

Stage: 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

To search for a fair game in this probability task, students will need to work systematically and record their findings appropriately.

Developing Systematic Approaches

Current