Creating and manipulating expressions and formulae

  • Pythagoras Proofs
    problem

    Pythagoras proofs

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Can you make sense of these three proofs of Pythagoras' Theorem?

  • What does it all add up to?
    problem

    What does it all add up to?

    Age
    11 to 18
    Challenge level
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    If you take four consecutive numbers and add them together, the answer will always be even. What else do you notice?
  • Pair Products
    problem

    Pair products

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Choose four consecutive whole numbers. Multiply the first and last numbers together. Multiply the middle pair together. What do you notice?

  • problem

    Salinon

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    This shape comprises four semi-circles. What is the relationship between the area of the shaded region and the area of the circle on AB as diameter?

  • Finding factors
    problem

    Finding factors

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Can you find the hidden factors which multiply together to produce each quadratic expression?

  • Generating Triples
    problem

    Generating triples

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Sets of integers like 3, 4, 5 are called Pythagorean Triples, because they could be the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. Can you find any more?

  • Steel Cables
    problem

    Steel cables

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Some students have been working out the number of strands needed for different sizes of cable. Can you make sense of their solutions?

  • Factorising with Multilink
    problem

    Factorising with multilink

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Can you find out what is special about the dimensions of rectangles you can make with squares, sticks and units?

  • Hollow Squares
    problem

    Hollow squares

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Which armies can be arranged in hollow square fighting formations?

  • Quadratic Patterns
    problem

    Quadratic patterns

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Surprising numerical patterns can be explained using algebra and diagrams...