You may also like

problem icon

Adding in Rows

List any 3 numbers. It is always possible to find a subset of adjacent numbers that add up to a multiple of 3. Can you explain why and prove it?

problem icon

Magic Sums and Products

How to build your own magic squares.

problem icon

No Matter

Weekly Problem 2 - 2013
After performing some operations, what number is your answer always a multiple of?

Partitioning Revisited

Stage: 3 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1


A possible start to work on the expansion of brackets in algebra.

It enables students to make links with shape and space and with arithmetic.

A useful follow-up to this problem could be Multiplication square and Cubes within Cubes revisited



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.
Copyright © 1997 - 2018. University of Cambridge. All rights reserved.
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.