Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Euler's Squares
    problem

    Euler's Squares

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Euler found four whole numbers such that the sum of any two of the numbers is a perfect square...

  • Our Ages
    problem

    Our Ages

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    I am exactly n times my daughter's age. In m years I shall be ... How old am I?

  • Mod 3
    problem

    Mod 3

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Prove that if a^2+b^2 is a multiple of 3 then both a and b are multiples of 3.

  • Fitting In
    problem

    Fitting In

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    The largest square which fits into a circle is ABCD and EFGH is a square with G and H on the line CD and E and F on the circumference of the circle. Show that AB = 5EF. Similarly the largest equilateral triangle which fits into a circle is LMN and PQR is an equilateral triangle with P and Q on the line LM and R on the circumference of the circle. Show that LM = 3PQ

  • A Biggy
    problem

    A Biggy

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Find the smallest positive integer N such that N/2 is a perfect cube, N/3 is a perfect fifth power and N/5 is a perfect seventh power.

  • Knight Defeated
    problem

    Knight Defeated

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    The knight's move on a chess board is 2 steps in one direction and one step in the other direction. Prove that a knight cannot visit every square on the board once and only (a tour) on a 2 by n board for any value of n. How many ways can a knight do this on a 3 by 4 board?

  • Loopy
    problem

    Loopy

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    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?

  • Find the fake
    problem

    Find the Fake

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    There are 12 identical looking coins, one of which is a fake. The counterfeit coin is of a different weight to the rest. What is the minimum number of weighings needed to locate the fake coin?

  • Postage
    problem

    Postage

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    The country Sixtania prints postage stamps with only three values 6 lucres, 10 lucres and 15 lucres (where the currency is in lucres).Which values cannot be made up with combinations of these postage stamps? Prove that all other values can be made up.

  • In Constantly Passing
    problem

    In Constantly Passing

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    A car is travelling along a dual carriageway at constant speed. Every 3 minutes a bus passes going in the opposite direction, while every 6 minutes a bus passes the car travelling in the same direction. Buses leave the depot at regular intervals; they travel along the dual carriageway and back to the depot at a constant speed. At what interval do the buses leave the depot?