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Let a(n) be the number of ways of expressing the integer n as an ordered sum of 1's and 2's. Let b(n) be the number of ways of expressing n as an ordered sum of integers greater than 1. (i) Calculate. . . .
Investigate the sequences obtained by starting with any positive 2 digit number (10a+b) and repeatedly using the rule 10a+b maps to 10b-a to get the next number in the sequence.
A introduction to how patterns can be deceiving, and what is and is not a proof.
The nth term of a sequence is given by the formula n^3 + 11n . Find the first four terms of the sequence given by this formula and the first term of the sequence which is bigger than one million. . . .
Three frogs hopped onto the table. A red frog on the left a green in the middle and a blue frog on the right. Then frogs started jumping randomly over any adjacent frog. Is it possible for them to. . . .
Can you find a rule which relates triangular numbers to square numbers?
Liam's house has a staircase with 12 steps. He can go down the steps one at a time or two at time. In how many different ways can Liam go down the 12 steps?
Imagine a strip with a mark somewhere along it. Fold it in the middle so that the bottom reaches back to the top. Stetch it out to match the original length. Now where's the mark?
Can you find a rule which connects consecutive triangular numbers?
Explore this how this program produces the sequences it does. What are you controlling when you change the values of the variables?
Investigate sequences given by $a_n = \frac{1+a_{n-1}}{a_{n-2}}$ for different choices of the first two terms. Make a conjecture about the behaviour of these sequences. Can you prove your conjecture?
Can you puzzle out what sequences these Logo programs will give? Then write your own Logo programs to generate sequences.
Watch these videos to see how Phoebe, Alice and Luke chose to draw 7 squares. How would they draw 100?
A story for students about adding powers of integers - with a festive twist.
An equilateral triangle rotates around regular polygons and produces an outline like a flower. What are the perimeters of the different flowers?
Let S1 = 1 , S2 = 2 + 3, S3 = 4 + 5 + 6 ,........ Calculate S17.
Show that all pentagonal numbers are one third of a triangular number.
Choose any 4 whole numbers and take the difference between consecutive numbers, ending with the difference between the first and the last numbers. What happens when you repeat this process over and. . . .
Here is a machine with four coloured lights. Can you make two lights switch on at once? Three lights? All four lights?
Show that 8778, 10296 and 13530 are three triangular numbers and that they form a Pythagorean triple.
Choose a couple of the sequences. Try to picture how to make the next, and the next, and the next... Can you describe your reasoning?
Place a red counter in the top left corner of a 4x4 array, which is covered by 14 other smaller counters, leaving a gap in the bottom right hand corner (HOME). What is the smallest number of moves. . . .
Here is a machine with four coloured lights. Can you develop a strategy to work out the rules controlling each light?
Simple additions can lead to intriguing results...
In this activity, the computer chooses a times table and shifts it. Can you work out the table and the shift each time?
Discover a way to sum square numbers by building cuboids from small cubes. Can you picture how the sequence will grow?
Alison, Bernard and Charlie have been exploring sequences of odd and even numbers, which raise some intriguing questions...
Have a go at this 3D extension to the Pebbles problem.
What is the total area of the first two triangles as a fraction of the original A4 rectangle? What is the total area of the first three triangles as a fraction of the original A4 rectangle? If. . . .
Powers of numbers behave in surprising ways. Take a look at some of these and try to explain why they are true.
This article for teachers describes the exchanges on an email talk list about ideas for an investigation which has the sum of the squares as its solution.
Can you show that 1^99 + 2^99 + 3^99 + 4^99 + 5^99 is divisible by 5?
Can you find a way to identify times tables after they have been shifted up?
This resource contains interactive problems to support work on number sequences at Key Stage 4.
What would you get if you continued this sequence of fraction sums? 1/2 + 2/1 = 2/3 + 3/2 = 3/4 + 4/3 =
The diagram illustrates the formula: 1 + 3 + 5 + ... + (2n - 1) = n² Use the diagram to show that any odd number is the difference of two squares.
Three circles have a maximum of six intersections with each other. What is the maximum number of intersections that a hundred circles could have?
Find the decimal equivalents of the fractions one ninth, one ninety ninth, one nine hundred and ninety ninth etc. Explain the pattern you get and generalise.
Consider numbers of the form un = 1! + 2! + 3! +...+n!. How many such numbers are perfect squares?
Take any whole number between 1 and 999, add the squares of the digits to get a new number. Make some conjectures about what happens in general.
How many different ways can I lay 10 paving slabs, each 2 foot by 1 foot, to make a path 2 foot wide and 10 foot long from my back door into my garden, without cutting any of the paving slabs?
Square numbers can be represented on the seven-clock (representing these numbers modulo 7). This works like the days of the week.
Explain why the arithmetic sequence 1, 14, 27, 40, ... contains many terms of the form 222...2 where only the digit 2 appears.
There are lots of ideas to explore in these sequences of ordered fractions.
Take any two positive numbers. Calculate the arithmetic and geometric means. Repeat the calculations to generate a sequence of arithmetic means and geometric means. Make a note of what happens to the. . . .
Three people chose this as a favourite problem. It is the sort of problem that needs thinking time - but once the connection is made it gives access to many similar ideas.
According to an old Indian myth, Sissa ben Dahir was a courtier for a king. The king decided to reward Sissa for his dedication and Sissa asked for one grain of rice to be put on the first square. . . .
Make some intricate patterns in LOGO
Here are some circle bugs to try to replicate with some elegant programming, plus some sequences generated elegantly in LOGO.
Formulate and investigate a simple mathematical model for the design of a table mat.