### 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?

### Always the Same

Arrange the numbers 1 to 16 into a 4 by 4 array. Choose a number. Cross out the numbers on the same row and column. Repeat this process. Add up you four numbers. Why do they always add up to 34?

### Fibs

The well known Fibonacci sequence is 1 ,1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21.... How many Fibonacci sequences can you find containing the number 196 as one of the terms?

# Hallway Borders

##### Age 11 to 14Challenge Level

Carla, Michael and Andrew from Smithdon HS, Hunstanton sent in a correct solution.

It is important to realise that if the hallway is $x$ by $y$ feet, then the perimeter involves $2x +2y - 4$ tiles, rather than $2x + 2y$. This is because the tiles in the four corners go along two edges each, so are counted twice when we calculate that the perimeter is $2x + 2y$ feet.

Then the solution is based on solving:

$$2x +2y - 4 = \frac{1}{2} xy$$
which after a clever rearrangement looks like

$$y = 4 + \frac{8}{(x - 4)}$$
so we know $x - 4$ is a factor of $8$.

Ignoring negative solutions leaves the positive solutions of $x=5,\,6,\,8,\,12$ and therefore $y=12,\,8,\,6,\,5$ correspondingly.

Hence the hallway is either $5$ by $12$ feet or $6$ by $8$ feet.

Did you expect to find two possible answers? Well done if you got both!