This is part of our Secondary Curriculum collection of favourite rich tasks arranged by topic.
Scroll down to see the complete collection, or explore our subcollections on Perimeter and Area in two dimensions, and Surface Area and Volume in three dimensions.
problem
Favourite
Sticky numbers
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Can you arrange the numbers 1 to 17 in a row so that each adjacent pair adds up to a square number?
problem
Favourite
Pocket money
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Which of these pocket money systems would you rather have?
problem
Favourite
Power countdown
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
In this twist on the well-known Countdown numbers game, use your knowledge of Powers and Roots to make a target.
problem
Favourite
Generating triples
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Sets of integers like 3, 4, 5 are called Pythagorean Triples, because they could be the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. Can you find any more?
problem
Favourite
Standard index form matching
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Can you match these calculations in Standard Index Form with their answers?
problem
Favourite
A question of scale
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Use your skill and knowledge to place various scientific lengths in order of size. Can you judge the length of objects with sizes ranging from 1 Angstrom to 1 million km with no wrong attempts?
Image
You may also be interested in this collection of activities from the STEM Learning website, that complement the NRICH activities above.