Being Curious - Geometry

Triangle Midpoints

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

You are only given the three midpoints of the sides of a triangle. How can you construct the original triangle?

Blue and White

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Identical squares of side one unit contain some circles shaded blue. In which of the four examples is the shaded area greatest?

Arclets

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

Each of the following shapes is made from arcs of a circle of radius r. What is the perimeter of a shape with 3, 4, 5 and n "nodes".

Marbles in a Box

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level

How many winning lines can you make in a three-dimensional version of noughts and crosses?

Hexy-metry

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

A hexagon, with sides alternately a and b units in length, is inscribed in a circle. How big is the radius of the circle?

Three by One

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level

There are many different methods to solve this geometrical problem - how many can you find?

Triangles and Petals

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

An equilateral triangle rotates around regular polygons and produces an outline like a flower. What are the perimeters of the different flowers?

Tilted Squares

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

It's easy to work out the areas of most squares that we meet, but what if they were tilted?

On the Edge

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

If you move the tiles around, can you make squares with different coloured edges?

Sending a Parcel

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

What is the greatest volume you can get for a rectangular (cuboid) parcel if the maximum combined length and girth are 2 metres?

Where to Land

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

Chris is enjoying a swim but needs to get back for lunch. How far along the bank should she land?

Square Coordinates

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

A tilted square is a square with no horizontal sides. Can you devise a general instruction for the construction of a square when you are given just one of its sides?

Right Angles

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Can you make a right-angled triangle on this peg-board by joining up three points round the edge?

Semi-regular Tessellations

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level

Semi-regular tessellations combine two or more different regular polygons to fill the plane. Can you find all the semi-regular tessellations?

Trapezium Four

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

The diagonals of a trapezium divide it into four parts. Can you create a trapezium where three of those parts are equal in area?

Cola Can

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

An aluminium can contains 330 ml of cola. If the can's diameter is 6 cm what is the can's height?

Can They Be Equal?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Can you find rectangles where the value of the area is the same as the value of the perimeter?

Cuboid Challenge

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level

What's the largest volume of box you can make from a square of paper?

Curvy Areas

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

Have a go at creating these images based on circles. What do you notice about the areas of the different sections?

Circles in Quadrilaterals

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

Explore when it is possible to construct a circle which just touches all four sides of a quadrilateral.

Which Solids Can We Make?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Interior angles can help us to work out which polygons will tessellate. Can we use similar ideas to predict which polygons combine to create semi-regular solids?

Opposite Vertices

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Can you recreate squares and rhombuses if you are only given a side or a diagonal?

Fit for Photocopying

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

Explore the relationships between different paper sizes.

Vector Journeys

Age 14 to 18
Challenge Level

Charlie likes to go for walks around a square park, while Alison likes to cut across diagonally. Can you find relationships between the vectors they walk along?

Perimeter Possibilities

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

I'm thinking of a rectangle with an area of 24. What could its perimeter be?