Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Prove that in every tetrahedron there is a vertex such that the three edges meeting there have lengths which could be the sides of a triangle.
Which is the biggest and which the smallest of $2000^{2002}, 2001^{2001} \text{and } 2002^{2000}$?
An inequality involving integrals of squares of functions.
Find all positive integers a and b for which the two equations: x^2-ax+b = 0 and x^2-bx+a = 0 both have positive integer solutions.
Some diagrammatic 'proofs' of algebraic identities and inequalities.
Here the diagram says it all. Can you find the diagram?
Take any two numbers between 0 and 1. Prove that the sum of the numbers is always less than one plus their product?
If you take two tests and get a marks out of a maximum b in the first and c marks out of d in the second, does the mediant (a+c)/(b+d)lie between the results for the two tests separately.
Given that u>0 and v>0 find the smallest possible value of 1/u + 1/v given that u + v = 5 by different methods.
Find the positive integer solutions of the equation (1+1/a)(1+1/b)(1+1/c) = 2
Show that for natural numbers x and y if x/y > 1 then x/y>(x+1)/(y+1}>1. Hence prove that the product for i=1 to n of [(2i)/(2i-1)] tends to infinity as n tends to infinity.
Is the mean of the squares of two numbers greater than, or less than, the square of their means?
Generalise this inequality involving integrals.
Take a few whole numbers away from a triangle number. If you know the mean of the remaining numbers can you find the triangle number and which numbers were removed?
Find the maximum value of n to the power 1/n and prove that it is a maximum.
Farey sequences are lists of fractions in ascending order of magnitude. Can you prove that in every Farey sequence there is a special relationship between Farey neighbours?
Prove that the product of the sum of n positive numbers with the sum of their reciprocals is not less than n^2.
Find all 3 digit numbers such that by adding the first digit, the square of the second and the cube of the third you get the original number, for example 1 + 3^2 + 5^3 = 135.
Three rods of different lengths form three sides of an enclosure with right angles between them. What arrangement maximises the area
Can you build a distribution with the maximum theoretical spread?
Given the mean and standard deviation of a set of marks, what is the greatest number of candidates who could have scored 100%?
Find the maximum value of 1/p + 1/q + 1/r where this sum is less than 1 and p, q, and r are positive integers.
Which rational numbers cannot be written in the form x + 1/(y + 1/z) where x, y and z are integers?
The challenge is to find the values of the variables if you are to solve this Sudoku.
Our first weekly challenge. We kick off with a challenge concerning inequalities.
Balance the bar with the three weight on the inside.
Show that is it impossible to have a tetrahedron whose six edges have lengths 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 units...
Attach weights of 1, 2, 4, and 8 units to the four attachment points on the bar. Move the bar from side to side until you find a balance point. Is it possible to predict that position?
Two cubes, each with integral side lengths, have a combined volume equal to the total of the lengths of their edges. How big are the cubes? [If you find a result by 'trial and error' you'll need to. . . .
Sketch the graphs of y = sin x and y = tan x and some straight lines. Prove some inequalities.
The symbol [ ] means 'the integer part of'. Can the numbers [2x]; 2[x]; [x + 1/2] + [x - 1/2] ever be equal? Can they ever take three different values?
Which is the bigger, 9^10 or 10^9 ? Which is the bigger, 99^100 or 100^99 ?
What fractions can you find between the square roots of 56 and 58?
Which of these continued fractions is bigger and why?
By inscribing a circle in a square and then a square in a circle find an approximation to pi. By using a hexagon, can you improve on the approximation?
The family of graphs of x^n + y^n =1 (for even n) includes the circle. Why do the graphs look more and more square as n increases?
The familiar Pythagorean 3-4-5 triple gives one solution to (x-1)^n + x^n = (x+1)^n so what about other solutions for x an integer and n= 2, 3, 4 or 5?
Which is larger cos(sin x) or sin(cos x) ? Does this depend on x ?
Can you find a quadratic equation which passes close to these points?
Can you find the solution to this algebraic inequality?
Show without recourse to any calculating aid that 7^{1/2} + 7^{1/3} + 7^{1/4} < 7 and 4^{1/2} + 4^{1/3} + 4^{1/4} > 4 . Sketch the graph of f(x) = x^{1/2} + x^{1/3} + x^{1/4} -x
Find all the periodic cycles and fixed points in this number sequence using any whole number as a starting point.
Use the diagram to investigate the classical Pythagorean means.