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Pair Sums

Five numbers added together in pairs produce: 0, 2, 4, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15 What are the five numbers?

Summing Consecutive Numbers

15 = 7 + 8 and 10 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4. Can you say which numbers can be expressed as the sum of two or more consecutive integers?

Big Powers

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.

Vectors Round a Square

Age 11 to 16


Here is a diagram showing how vectors can describe a journey round a square:
 
vectors forming a square


The journey starts along the black vector $\pmatrix{3\cr 1}$
What vectors describe the rest of the journey?
 
There are many interesting mathematical questions about vectors that describe journeys.

Explore journeys round various squares of your own and see what you can find out.


If you would like some ideas of interesting questions to explore, take a look below.


What happens if I add vectors together?

What is special about opposite sides of the squares?

What is special about adjacent sides of the squares?

If I know the vector for the diagonal can I work out the other vectors?
   vector square with diagonal  

What about other shapes?