Explaining, convincing and proving

  • There's a limit
    problem
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    There's a Limit

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Explore the continued fraction: 2+3/(2+3/(2+3/2+...)) What do you notice when successive terms are taken? What happens to the terms if the fraction goes on indefinitely?
  • Our Ages
    problem

    Our Ages

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    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
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    Prove that if a^2+b^2 is a multiple of 3 then both a and b are multiples of 3.
  • Common Divisor
    problem
    Favourite

    Common Divisor

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Find the largest integer which divides every member of the following sequence: 1^5-1, 2^5-2, 3^5-3, ... n^5-n.
  • Three Ways
    problem

    Three Ways

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    If x + y = -1 find the largest value of xy by coordinate geometry, by calculus and by algebra.
  • Fitting In
    problem

    Fitting In

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    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
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    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.
  • Pair Squares
    problem

    Pair Squares

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    The sum of any two of the numbers 2, 34 and 47 is a perfect square. Choose three square numbers and find sets of three integers with this property. Generalise to four integers.
  • Diverging
    problem

    Diverging

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Show that for natural numbers x and y if x/y > 1 then x/y>(x+1)/(y+1}>1. Hence prove that the product for i=1 to n of [(2i)/(2i-1)] tends to infinity as n tends to infinity.
  • Staircase
    problem

    Staircase

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Solving the equation x^3 = 3 is easy but what about solving equations with a 'staircase' of powers?