10 year retrospective - January 2007, Stage 2&3

Problems

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Overlapping Squares

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Have a good look at these images. Can you describe what is happening? There are plenty more images like this on NRICH's Exploring Squares CD.

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Consecutive Numbers

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

An investigation involving adding and subtracting sets of consecutive numbers. Lots to find out, lots to explore.

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One to Fifteen

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Can you put the numbers from 1 to 15 on the circles so that no consecutive numbers lie anywhere along a continuous straight line?

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Square Tangram

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

This was a problem for our birthday website. Can you use four of these pieces to form a square? How about making a square with all five pieces?

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Magic Matrix

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

Find out why these matrices are magic. Can you work out how they were made? Can you make your own Magic Matrix?

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It's a Tie

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

Kaia is sure that her father has worn a particular tie twice a week in at least five of the last ten weeks, but her father disagrees. Who do you think is right?

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Isosceles Triangles

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Draw some isosceles triangles with an area of $9$cm$^2$ and a vertex at (20,20). If all the vertices must have whole number coordinates, how many is it possible to draw?

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Nine Colours

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

You have 27 small cubes, 3 each of nine colours. Use the small cubes to make a 3 by 3 by 3 cube so that each face of the bigger cube contains one of every colour.

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Triangles to Tetrahedra

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Starting with four different triangles, imagine you have an unlimited number of each type. How many different tetrahedra can you make? Convince us you have found them all.

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Noughts and Crosses

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Ever thought of playing three dimensional Noughts and Crosses? This problem might help you visualise what's involved.

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More Number Pyramids

Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:2 Challenge Level:2

When number pyramids have a sequence on the bottom layer, some interesting patterns emerge...

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Big Powers

Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Three people chose this as a favourite problem. It is the sort of problem that needs thinking time - but once the connection is made it gives access to many similar ideas.

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One Basket or Group Photo

Stage: 2, 3, 4 and 5 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Libby Jared helped to set up NRICH and this is one of her favourite problems. It's a problem suitable for a wide age range and best tackled practically.

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
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