NRICH Secondary Curriculum Map

The problems linked below have detailed Teachers' Resources suggesting how they can be used in the classroom.

Please email any comments to secondary.nrich@maths.org

Looking for primary problems? See the NRICH Primary Curriculum Map.

Key

Games are indicated by ‘G’ and Articles by 'A'.

Tasks badged filled star are suitable for the whole class;
Tasks badged filled starfilled star are suitable for the majority;
Tasks badged filled starfilled starfilled star are for those who like a serious challenge.

Highlight ‘Thinking mathematically’ or ‘Mathematical mindset’ problems

GEOMETRY

Pre-Secondary Age 11 – 12 Age 15 - 16 Extension

Angles, Polygons and Geometrical Proof

Identifying Shapes and Their Properties

Comparing and Classifying

Angles

Derive and illustrate properties of triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, and other plane figures (for example, equal lengths and angles) using appropriate language and technologies Identify and apply circle definitions and properties, including: centre, radius, chord, diameter, circumference, tangent, arc, sector and segment
Quadrilaterals game Quadrilaterals game
A game for 2 or more people, based on the traditional card game Rummy.
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An Equilateral Triangular Problem An Equilateral Triangular Problem
Take an equilateral triangle and cut it into smaller pieces. What can you do with them?
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Guess my Quad Guess my Quad
How many questions do you need to identify my quadrilateral?
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Completing Quadrilaterals Completing Quadrilaterals
We started drawing some quadrilaterals - can you complete them?
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Property chart Property chart
A game in which players take it in turns to try to draw quadrilaterals (or triangles) with particular properties. Is it possible to fill the game grid?
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Square coordinates Square coordinates
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?
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Circles in quadrilaterals Circles in quadrilaterals
Explore when it is possible to construct a circle which just touches all four sides of a quadrilateral.
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Describe, sketch and draw using conventional terms and notations: points, lines, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, right angles, regular polygons, and other polygons that are reflectively and rotationally symmetric
Hidden Squares Hidden Squares
Can you find the squares hidden on these coordinate grids?
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Square It Square It
Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.
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Parallelogram It Parallelogram It
Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a parallelogram.
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Shapely pairs Shapely pairs
A game in which players take it in turns to turn up two cards. If they can draw a triangle which satisfies both properties they win the pair of cards. And a few challenging questions to follow...
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Rhombus It Rhombus It
Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a rhombus.
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Opposite vertices Opposite vertices
Can you recreate squares and rhombuses if you are only given a side or a diagonal?
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Apply the properties of angles at a point, angles at a point on a straight line, vertically opposite angles
Draw and measure line segments and angles in geometric figures, including interpreting scale drawings
Estimating angles Estimating angles
How good are you at estimating angles?
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Derive and use the sum of angles in a triangle and use it to deduce the angle sum in any polygon, and to derive properties of regular polygons
Triangles in circles Triangles in circles
Can you find triangles on a 9-point circle? Can you work out their angles?
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Polygon Rings Polygon Rings
Join pentagons together edge to edge. Will they form a ring?
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Polygon Pictures Polygon Pictures
Can you work out how these polygon pictures were drawn, and use that to figure out their angles?
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Semi-regular Tessellations Semi-regular Tessellations
Semi-regular tessellations combine two or more different regular polygons to fill the plane. Can you find all the semi-regular tessellations?
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Which solids can we make? Which solids can we make?
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?
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Star Polygons Star Polygons
Draw some stars and measure the angles at their points. Can you find and prove a result about their sum?
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Isosceles Seven Isosceles Seven
Is it possible to find the angles in this rather special isosceles triangle?
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Understand and use the relationship between parallel lines and alternate and corresponding angles
Use the standard conventions for labelling the sides and angles of triangle ABC, and know and use the criteria for congruence of triangles
Identify and construct congruent triangles, and construct similar shapes by enlargement, with and without coordinate grids Apply the concepts of congruence and similarity, including the relationships between lengths, areas and volumes in similar figures
Quad in Quad Quad in Quad
Join the midpoints of a quadrilateral to get a new quadrilateral. What is special about it?
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Triangle in a Triangle Triangle in a Triangle
Can you work out the fraction of the original triangle that is covered by the inner triangle?
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Nicely Similar Nicely Similar
If the hypotenuse (base) length is 100cm and if an extra line splits the base into 36cm and 64cm parts, what were the side lengths for the original right-angled triangle?
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Making sixty Making sixty
Why does this fold create an angle of sixty degrees?
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Same length Same length
Construct two equilateral triangles on a straight line. There are two lengths that look the same - can you prove it?
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Two Ladders Two Ladders
Two ladders are propped up against facing walls. At what height do the ladders cross?
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Napkin Napkin
A napkin is folded so that a corner coincides with the midpoint of an opposite edge. Investigate the three triangles formed.
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Kite in a Square Kite in a Square
Can you make sense of the three methods to work out what fraction of the total area is shaded?
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Triangle midpoints Triangle midpoints
You are only given the three midpoints of the sides of a triangle. How can you construct the original triangle?
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The square under the hypotenuse The square under the hypotenuse
Can you work out the side length of a square that just touches the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle?
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Angle Trisection Angle Trisection
It is impossible to trisect an angle using only ruler and compasses but it can be done using a carpenter's square.
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Squirty Squirty
Using a ruler, pencil and compasses only, it is possible to construct a square inside any triangle so that all four vertices touch the sides of the triangle.
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Trapezium Four Trapezium Four
The diagonals of a trapezium divide it into four parts. Can you create a trapezium where three of those parts are equal in area?
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Apply angle facts, triangle congruence, similarity and properties of quadrilaterals to derive results about angles and sides, including Pythagoras' Theorem, and use known results to obtain simple proofs Apply and prove the standard circle theorems concerning angles, radii, tangents and chords, and use them to prove related results
Triangles in circles Triangles in circles
Can you find triangles on a 9-point circle? Can you work out their angles?
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Right angles Right angles
Can you make a right-angled triangle on this peg-board by joining up three points round the edge?
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Subtended angles Subtended angles
What is the relationship between the angle at the centre and the angles at the circumference, for angles which stand on the same arc? Can you prove it?
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Pythagoras Proofs Pythagoras Proofs
Can you make sense of these three proofs of Pythagoras' Theorem?
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Cyclic Quadrilaterals Cyclic Quadrilaterals
Draw some quadrilaterals on a 9-point circle and work out the angles. Is there a theorem?
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Tilted Squares Tilted Squares
It's easy to work out the areas of most squares that we meet, but what if they were tilted?
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Sitting Pretty Sitting Pretty
A circle of radius r touches two sides of a right angled triangle, sides x and y, and has its centre on the hypotenuse. Can you prove the formula linking x, y and r?
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Partly Circles Partly Circles
What is the same and what is different about these circle questions? What connections can you make?
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Interpret mathematical relationships both algebraically and geometrically
Quadrilaterals in a Square Quadrilaterals in a Square
What's special about the area of quadrilaterals drawn in a square?
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Of all the areas Of all the areas
Can you find a general rule for finding the areas of equilateral triangles drawn on an isometric grid?
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Angles, Polygons and Geometrical Proof short problems

Construction

Drawing and Constructing

Derive and use standard ruler and compass constructions (perpendicular bisector of a line segment, constructing a perpendicular to a given line from / at a given point, bisecting a given angle); recognise and use the perpendicular distance from a point to a line as the shortest distance to the line
Constructing Triangles Constructing Triangles
Generate three random numbers to determine the side lengths of a triangle. What triangles can you draw?
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The Farmers' Field Boundary The Farmers' Field Boundary
The farmers want to redraw their field boundary but keep the area the same. Can you advise them?
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Construction short problems

Perimeter, Area and Volume

Comparing and Estimating

Measuring and Calculating

Derive and apply formulae to calculate and solve problems involving: perimeter and area of triangles, parallelograms, trapezia, volume of cuboids (including cubes) and other prisms (including cylinders) Calculate surface areas and volumes of spheres, pyramids, cones and composite solids
Shear Magic Shear Magic
Explore the area of families of parallelograms and triangles. Can you find rules to work out the areas?
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On the Edge On the Edge
If you move the tiles around, can you make squares with different coloured edges?
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Changing areas, changing perimeters Changing areas, changing perimeters
How can you change the area of a shape but keep its perimeter the same? How can you change the perimeter but keep the area the same?
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Perimeter Possibilities Perimeter Possibilities
I'm thinking of a rectangle with an area of 24. What could its perimeter be?
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Colourful Cube Colourful Cube
A colourful cube is made from little red and yellow cubes. But can you work out how many of each?
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Fence it Fence it
If you have only 40 metres of fencing available, what is the maximum area of land you can fence off?
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Cuboid Challenge Cuboid Challenge
What's the largest volume of box you can make from a square of paper?
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Isosceles Triangles Isosceles Triangles
Draw some isosceles triangles with an area of $9$cm$^2$ and a vertex at (20,20). If all the vertices must have whole number coordinates, how many is it possible to draw?
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Can they be equal? Can they be equal?
Can you find rectangles where the value of the area is the same as the value of the perimeter?
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Changing areas, changing volumes Changing areas, changing volumes
How can you change the surface area of a cuboid but keep its volume the same? How can you change the volume but keep the surface area the same?
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Isometric Areas Isometric Areas
We usually use squares to measure area, but what if we use triangles instead?
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More Isometric Areas More Isometric Areas
Isometric Areas explored areas of parallelograms in triangular units. Here we explore areas of triangles...
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Cuboids Cuboids
Can you find a cuboid that has a surface area of exactly 100 square units. Is there more than one? Can you find them all?
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Sending a Parcel Sending a Parcel
What is the greatest volume you can get for a rectangular (cuboid) parcel if the maximum combined length and girth are 2 metres?
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Triangle in a Trapezium Triangle in a Trapezium
Can you find and prove the relationship between the area of a trapezium and the area of a triangle constructed within it?
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Immersion Immersion
Various solids are lowered into a beaker of water. How does the water level rise in each case?
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Funnel Funnel
A plastic funnel is used to pour liquids through narrow apertures. What shape funnel would use the least amount of plastic to manufacture for any specific volume ?
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Fill Me Up Too Fill Me Up Too
In Fill Me Up we invited you to sketch graphs as vessels are filled with water. Can you work out the equations of the graphs?
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Calculate and solve problems involving: perimeters of 2-D shapes (including circles), areas of circles and composite shapes Calculate arc lengths, angles and area of sectors of circles
Perimeter Challenge Perimeter Challenge
Can you deduce the perimeters of the shapes from the information given?
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Triangles in a Square Triangles in a Square
What are the possible areas of triangles drawn in a square?
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Blue and White Blue and White
Identical squares of side one unit contain some circles shaded blue. In which of the four examples is the shaded area greatest?
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An Unusual Shape An Unusual Shape
Can you maximise the area available to a grazing goat?
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Efficient cutting Efficient cutting
Use a single sheet of A4 paper and make a cylinder having the greatest possible volume. The cylinder must be closed off by a circle at each end.
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Cola Can Cola Can
An aluminium can contains 330 ml of cola. If the can's diameter is 6 cm what is the can's height?
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Arclets Arclets
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".
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Gutter Gutter
Manufacturers need to minimise the amount of material used to make their product. What is the best cross-section for a gutter?
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Curvy areas Curvy areas
Have a go at creating these images based on circles. What do you notice about the areas of the different sections?
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Track design Track design
Where should runners start the 200m race so that they have all run the same distance by the finish?
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Triangles and petals Triangles and petals
An equilateral triangle rotates around regular polygons and produces an outline like a flower. What are the perimeters of the different flowers?
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Salinon Salinon
This shape comprises four semi-circles. What is the relationship between the area of the shaded region and the area of the circle on AB as diameter?
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Perimeter, Area and Volume short problems

3D Shapes

Identifying Shapes and Their Properties

Use the properties of faces, surfaces, edges and vertices of cubes, cuboids, prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones and spheres to solve problems in 3-D Construct and interpret plans and elevations of 3-D shapes
Nine Colours Nine Colours
Can you use small coloured cubes to make a 3 by 3 by 3 cube so that each face of the bigger cube contains one of each colour?
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Triangles to Tetrahedra Triangles to Tetrahedra
Imagine you have an unlimited number of four types of triangle. How many different tetrahedra can you make?
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Marbles in a box Marbles in a box
How many winning lines can you make in a three-dimensional version of noughts and crosses?
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Tet-Trouble Tet-Trouble
Is it possible to have a tetrahedron whose six edges have lengths 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 units?
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3D Shapes short problems

Transformations

Position, Direction and Movement

Identify properties of, and describe the results of, translations, rotations and reflections applied to given figures Describe the changes and invariance achieved by combinations of rotations, reflections and translations
Reflecting Squarely Reflecting Squarely
In how many ways can you fit all three pieces together to make shapes with line symmetry?
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Shady Symmetry Shady Symmetry
How many different symmetrical shapes can you make by shading triangles or squares?
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Mirror, mirror... Mirror, mirror...
Explore the effect of reflecting in two parallel mirror lines.
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...on the wall ...on the wall
Explore the effect of reflecting in two intersecting mirror lines.
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Attractive rotations Attractive rotations
Here is a chance to create some attractive images by rotating shapes through multiples of 90 degrees, or 30 degrees, or 72 degrees or...
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Transformation Game Transformation Game
Why not challenge a friend to play this transformation game?
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Robotic Rotations Robotic Rotations
How did the the rotation robot make these patterns?
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Interpret and use fractional and negative scale factors for enlargements
Who is the fairest of them all ? Who is the fairest of them all ?
Explore the effect of combining enlargements.
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Growing Rectangles Growing Rectangles
What happens to the area and volume of 2D and 3D shapes when you enlarge them?
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Fit for photocopying Fit for photocopying
Explore the relationships between different paper sizes.
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Transformations short problems

Vectors

Describe translations as 2D vectors
Vector Gem Collector Vector Gem Collector
Use vectors to collect as many gems as you can and bring them safely home!
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Vector Racer Vector Racer
The classic vector racing game.
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Vector journeys Vector journeys
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?
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Vector walk Vector walk
Starting with two basic vector steps, which destinations can you reach on a vector walk?
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Apply addition and subtraction of vectors, multiplication of vectors by a scalar, and diagrammatic and column representations of vectors; use vectors to construct geometric arguments and proofs
Spotting the loophole Spotting the loophole
A visualisation problem in which you search for vectors which sum to zero from a jumble of arrows. Will your eyes be quicker than algebra?
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Areas of parallelograms Areas of parallelograms
Can you find the area of a parallelogram defined by two vectors?
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Vectors short problems

Pythagoras' Theorem & Trigonometry

Use Pythagoras' Theorem and trigonometric ratios in similar triangles to solve problems involving right-angled triangles Apply Pythagoras' Theorem and trigonometric ratios to find angles and lengths in right-angled triangles (and, where possible, general triangles) in two and three dimensional figures; interpret and use bearings
Garden Shed Garden Shed
Can you minimise the amount of wood needed to build the roof of my garden shed?
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Compare Areas Compare Areas
Which has the greatest area, a circle or a square, inscribed in an isosceles right angle triangle?
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Inscribed in a Circle Inscribed in a Circle
The area of a square inscribed in a circle with a unit radius is, satisfyingly, 2. What is the area of a regular hexagon inscribed in a circle with a unit radius?
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Semi-detached Semi-detached
A square of area 40 square cms is inscribed in a semicircle. Find the area of the square that could be inscribed in a circle of the same radius.
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Far Horizon Far Horizon
An observer is on top of a lighthouse. How far from the foot of the lighthouse is the horizon that the observer can see?
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The Spider and the Fly The Spider and the Fly
A spider is sitting in the middle of one of the smallest walls in a room and a fly is resting beside the window. What is the shortest distance the spider would have to crawl to catch the fly?
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Where to Land Where to Land
Chris is enjoying a swim but needs to get back for lunch. How far along the bank should she land?
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Ladder and Cube Ladder and Cube
A 1 metre cube has one face on the ground and one face against a wall. A 4 metre ladder leans against the wall and just touches the cube. How high is the top of the ladder above the ground?
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Know the exact values of sin θ and cos θ for θ = 0˚, 30˚, 45˚, 60˚ and 90˚; know the exact value of tan θ for θ = 0˚, 30˚, 45˚ and 60˚
Where is the dot? Where is the dot?
A dot starts at the point (1,0) and turns anticlockwise. Can you estimate the height of the dot after it has turned through 45 degrees? Can you calculate its height?
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Three cubes Three cubes
Can you work out the dimensions of the three cubes?
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Know and apply the sine rule and cosine rule to find unknown lengths and angles
Bendy Quad Bendy Quad
Four rods are hinged at their ends to form a convex quadrilateral. Investigate the different shapes that the quadrilateral can take. Be patient this problem may be slow to load.
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Three by One Three by One
There are many different methods to solve this geometrical problem - how many can you find?
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Cubestick Cubestick
Stick some cubes together to make a cuboid. Find two of the angles by as many different methods as you can devise.
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Hexy-Metry Hexy-Metry
A hexagon, with sides alternately a and b units in length, is inscribed in a circle. How big is the radius of the circle?
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Know and apply Area = ½ ab sin C to calculate the area, sides or angles of any triangle
Pythagoras' Theorem & Trigonometry short problems