Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Investigate the area of 'slices' cut off this cube of cheese. What would happen if you had different-sized block of cheese to start with?
How many tiles do we need to tile these patios?
I cut this square into two different shapes. What can you say about the relationship between them?
These pictures were made by starting with a square, finding the half-way point on each side and joining those points up. You could investigate your own starting shape.
Here are many ideas for you to investigate - all linked with the number 2000.
If I use 12 green tiles to represent my lawn, how many different ways could I arrange them? How many border tiles would I need each time?
Cut differently-sized square corners from a square piece of paper to make boxes without lids. Do they all have the same volume?
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?
What can you say about these shapes? This problem challenges you to create shapes with different areas and perimeters.
This practical challenge invites you to investigate the different squares you can make on a square geoboard or pegboard.
How many ways can you find of tiling the square patio, using square tiles of different sizes?
Use the interactivity to find all the different right-angled triangles you can make by just moving one corner of the starting triangle.
Can you help the children find the two triangles which have the lengths of two sides numerically equal to their areas?
What is the smallest number of tiles needed to tile this patio? Can you investigate patios of different sizes?
Can you draw a square in which the perimeter is numerically equal to the area?
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?
A thoughtful shepherd used bales of straw to protect the area around his lambs. Explore how you can arrange the bales.
An investigation that gives you the opportunity to make and justify predictions.
Investigate all the different squares you can make on this 5 by 5 grid by making your starting side go from the bottom left hand point. Can you find out the areas of all these squares?
These rectangles have been torn. How many squares did each one have inside it before it was ripped?
Nine squares with side lengths 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 18 cm can be fitted together to form a rectangle. What are the dimensions of the rectangle?
What do these two triangles have in common? How are they related?
Choose a box and work out the smallest rectangle of paper needed to wrap it so that it is completely covered.
Arrange your fences to make the largest rectangular space you can. Try with four fences, then five, then six etc.
Read about David Hilbert who proved that any polygon could be cut up into a certain number of pieces that could be put back together to form any other polygon of equal area.
How have "Warmsnug" arrived at the prices shown on their windows? Which window has been given an incorrect price?
Look at the mathematics that is all around us - this circular window is a wonderful example.
You have pitched your tent (the red triangle) on an island. Can you move it to the position shown by the purple triangle making sure you obey the rules?
What is the total area of the four outside triangles which are outlined in red in this arrangement of squares inside each other?
What shape has Harry drawn on this clock face? Can you find its area? What is the largest number of square tiles that could cover this area?
Have a good look at these images. Can you describe what is happening? There are plenty more images like this on NRICH's Exploring Squares CD.
A simple visual exploration into halving and doubling.
How many centimetres of rope will I need to make another mat just like the one I have here?
How would you move the bands on the pegboard to alter these shapes?
Grandpa was measuring a rug using yards, feet and inches. Can you help William to work out its area?
This article for teachers gives some food for thought when teaching ideas about area.
A follow-up activity to Tiles in the Garden.
Is it possible to remove ten unit cubes from a 3 by 3 by 3 cube made from 27 unit cubes so that the surface area of the remaining solid is the same as the surface area of the original 3 by 3 by 3. . . .
What happens to the area and volume of 2D and 3D shapes when you enlarge them?
Can you rank these sets of quantities in order, from smallest to largest? Can you provide convincing evidence for your rankings?
If you have only 40 metres of fencing available, what is the maximum area of land you can fence off?
At the corner of the cube circular arcs are drawn and the area enclosed shaded. What fraction of the surface area of the cube is shaded? Try working out the answer without recourse to pencil and. . . .
Can you maximise the area available to a grazing goat?
The area of a square inscribed in a circle with a unit radius is, satisfyingly, 2. What is the area of a regular hexagon inscribed in a circle with a unit radius?
My measurements have got all jumbled up! Swap them around and see if you can find a combination where every measurement is valid.
An activity for high-attaining learners which involves making a new cylinder from a cardboard tube.
Seven small rectangular pictures have one inch wide frames. The frames are removed and the pictures are fitted together like a jigsaw to make a rectangle of length 12 inches. Find the dimensions of. . . .
What is the shape and dimensions of a box that will contain six cups and have as small a surface area as possible.
Explore this interactivity and see if you can work out what it does. Could you use it to estimate the area of a shape?
Explore one of these five pictures.