Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Mindreader
    problem

    Mindreader

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    A little bit of algebra explains this 'magic'. Ask a friend to pick 3 consecutive numbers and to tell you a multiple of 3. Then ask them to add the four numbers and multiply by 67, and to tell you the last two digits of her answer. Now you can really amaze her by giving the whole answer and the three consecutive numbers used at the start.

  • A chordingly
    problem

    A Chordingly

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Find the area of the annulus in terms of the length of the chord which is tangent to the inner circle.

  • Ratty
    problem

    Ratty

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    If you know the sizes of the angles marked with coloured dots in this diagram which angles can you find by calculation?

  • Unit fractions
    problem

    Unit Fractions

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Consider the equation 1/a + 1/b + 1/c = 1 where a, b and c are natural numbers and 0 < a < b < c. Prove that there is only one set of values which satisfy this equation.

  • One O Five
    problem

    One O Five

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    You can work out the number someone else is thinking of as follows. Ask a friend to think of any natural number less than 100. Then ask them to tell you the remainders when this number is divided by 3, 5 and by 7...

  • Disappearing square
    problem

    Disappearing Square

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Do you know how to find the area of a triangle? You can count the squares. What happens if we turn the triangle on end? Press the button and see. Try counting the number of units in the triangle now. Do you have any interesting findings to report?

  • Top-Heavy Pyramids
    problem

    Top-Heavy Pyramids

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Use the numbers in the box below to make the base of a top-heavy pyramid whose top number is 200.

  • Convex Polygons
    problem

    Convex Polygons

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Show that among the interior angles of a convex polygon there cannot be more than three acute angles.

  • More Total Totality
    problem

    More Total Totality

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Is it possible to arrange the numbers 1-6 on the nodes of this diagram, so that all the sums between numbers on adjacent nodes are different?