Compound transformations

  • Squares, Squares and More Squares
    problem

    Squares, Squares and More Squares

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Can you dissect a square into: 4, 7, 10, 13... other squares? 6, 9, 12, 15... other squares? 8, 11, 14... other squares?
  • Matching Frieze Patterns
    problem

    Matching Frieze Patterns

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Sort the frieze patterns into seven pairs according to the way in which the motif is repeated.
  • Footprints
    problem

    Footprints

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Make a footprint pattern using only reflections.
  • 2001 Spatial Oddity
    problem

    2001 Spatial Oddity

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    With one cut a piece of card 16 cm by 9 cm can be made into two pieces which can be rearranged to form a square 12 cm by 12 cm. Explain how this can be done.
  • Trees and friezes
    problem

    Trees and Friezes

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    This problem is based on the idea of building patterns using transformations.
  • Reflect Again
    problem

    Reflect Again

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Follow hints to investigate the matrix which gives a reflection of the plane in the line y=tanx. Show that the combination of two reflections in intersecting lines is a rotation.
  • A pair of scissors about to cut the corner of a blue piece of paper.
    problem

    Cutting Corners

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Can you make the most extraordinary, the most amazing, the most unusual patterns/designs from these triangles which are made in a special way?

  • Cut and Make
    problem

    Cut and Make

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Cut a square of paper into three pieces as shown. Now,can you use the 3 pieces to make a large triangle, a parallelogram and the square again?
  • Square to L
    problem

    Square to L

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Find a way to cut a 4 by 4 square into only two pieces, then rejoin the two pieces to make an L shape 6 units high.

  • Midpoint Triangle
    problem

    Midpoint Triangle

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Can you cut up a square in the way shown and make the pieces into a triangle?