Interpreting and evaluating - July 2009, Stage 1&2

This month our problems involve aspects of the process of interpreting the information in a question and examining in various ways the solution or methods used to get the solution. For example, are the assumptions and arguments made correct or appropriate? How does the solution relate to the initial problem? Can we make sense of someone else's finding? Can we compare strategies used?

Problems

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Baked Bean Cans

Stage: 1 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Is there a best way to stack cans? What do different supermarkets do? How high can you safely stack the cans?

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Domino Join Up

Stage: 1 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you arrange fifteen dominoes so that all the touching domino pieces add to 6 and the ends join up? Can you make all the joins add to 7?

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Hexpentas

Stage: 1 and 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

How many different ways can you find of fitting five hexagons together? How will you know you have found all the ways?

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The Mathemagician's Seven Spells

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

"Tell me the next two numbers in each of these seven minor spells", chanted the Mathemagician, "And the great spell will crumble away!" Can you help Anna and David break the spell?

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Six Is the Sum

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

What do the digits in the number fifteen add up to? How many other numbers have digits with the same total but no zeros?

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Factor Lines

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Arrange the four number cards on the grid, according to the rules, to make a diagonal, vertical or horizontal line.

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Cycling Squares

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

Can you make a cycle of pairs that add to make a square number using all the numbers in the box below, once and once only?

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Inside Seven Squares

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

What is the total area of the four outside triangles which are outlined in red in this arrangement of squares inside each other?

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