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Are all the possible combinations of two shapes included in this set of 27 cards? How do you know?
In how many ways can you fit two of these yellow triangles together? Can you predict the number of ways two blue triangles can be fitted together?
An activity making various patterns with 2 x 1 rectangular tiles.
Take a rectangle of paper and fold it in half, and half again, to make four smaller rectangles. How many different ways can you fold it up?
This practical investigation invites you to make tessellating shapes in a similar way to the artist Escher.
Using different numbers of sticks, how many different triangles are you able to make? Can you make any rules about the numbers of sticks that make the most triangles?
Arrange 9 red cubes, 9 blue cubes and 9 yellow cubes into a large 3 by 3 cube. No row or column of cubes must contain two cubes of the same colour.
Take 5 cubes of one colour and 2 of another colour. How many different ways can you join them if the 5 must touch the table and the 2 must not touch the table?
How many models can you find which obey these rules?
What is the greatest number of counters you can place on the grid below without four of them lying at the corners of a square?
What is the smallest cuboid that you can put in this box so that you cannot fit another that's the same into it?
How can you arrange the 5 cubes so that you need the smallest number of Brush Loads of paint to cover them? Try with other numbers of cubes as well.
How many different cuboids can you make when you use four CDs or DVDs? How about using five, then six?
How can you put five cereal packets together to make different shapes if you must put them face-to-face?
What do these two triangles have in common? How are they related?
Can you make the most extraordinary, the most amazing, the most unusual patterns/designs from these triangles which are made in a special way?
Investigate the smallest number of moves it takes to turn these mats upside-down if you can only turn exactly three at a time.
What happens to the area of a square if you double the length of the sides? Try the same thing with rectangles, diamonds and other shapes. How do the four smaller ones fit into the larger one?
Let's say you can only use two different lengths - 2 units and 4 units. Using just these 2 lengths as the edges how many different cuboids can you make?
This activity investigates how you might make squares and pentominoes from Polydron.
How many triangles can you make on the 3 by 3 pegboard?
What is the largest number of circles we can fit into the frame without them overlapping? How do you know? What will happen if you try the other shapes?
Can you order pictures of the development of a frog from frogspawn and of a bean seed growing into a plant?
The ancient Egyptians were said to make right-angled triangles using a rope with twelve equal sections divided by knots. What other triangles could you make if you had a rope like this?
NRICH December 2006 advent calendar - a new tangram for each day in the run-up to Christmas.
Make new patterns from simple turning instructions. You can have a go using pencil and paper or with a floor robot.
Here is a version of the game 'Happy Families' for you to make and play.
Can you create more models that follow these rules?
A group of children are discussing the height of a tall tree. How would you go about finding out its height?
Arrange your fences to make the largest rectangular space you can. Try with four fences, then five, then six etc.
How is it possible to predict the card?
This practical problem challenges you to create shapes and patterns with two different types of triangle. You could even try overlapping them.
Using these kite and dart templates, you could try to recreate part of Penrose's famous tessellation or design one yourself.
We went to the cinema and decided to buy some bags of popcorn so we asked about the prices. Investigate how much popcorn each bag holds so find out which we might have bought.
Our 2008 Advent Calendar has a 'Making Maths' activity for every day in the run-up to Christmas.
What are the next three numbers in this sequence? Can you explain why are they called pyramid numbers?
In this challenge, you will work in a group to investigate circular fences enclosing trees that are planted in square or triangular arrangements.
Can you each work out the number on your card? What do you notice? How could you sort the cards?
This was a problem for our birthday website. Can you use four of these pieces to form a square? How about making a square with all five pieces?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Fung at the table?
If these balls are put on a line with each ball touching the one in front and the one behind, which arrangement makes the shortest line of balls?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Ming playing the board game?
Take a counter and surround it by a ring of other counters that MUST touch two others. How many are needed?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the candle and sundial?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this brazier for roasting chestnuts?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this telephone?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of these people?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the chairs?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this shape. How would you describe it?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of Mai Ling and Chi Wing?