Powers and Roots


This is part of our Secondary Curriculum collection of favourite rich tasks arranged by topic.

Sticky Numbers

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Can you arrange the numbers 1 to 17 in a row so that each adjacent pair adds up to a square number?

Pocket Money

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level

Which of these pocket money systems would you rather have?

Powers and Roots - Short Problems

Age 11 to 16

A collection of short problems on powers and roots.

Generating Triples

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

Sets of integers like 3, 4, 5 are called Pythagorean Triples, because they could be the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. Can you find any more?

Standard Index Form Matching

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

Can you match these calculations in Standard Index Form with their answers?

Power Countdown

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

In this twist on the well-known Countdown numbers game, use your knowledge of Powers and Roots to make a target.

A Question of Scale

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

Use your skill and knowledge to place various scientific lengths in order of size. Can you judge the length of objects with sizes ranging from 1 Angstrom to 1 million km with no wrong attempts?



 
You may also be interested in this collection of activities from the STEM Learning website, that complement the NRICH activities above.
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.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.