Powers and Roots: Age 11-16

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

  • A glue stick with the lid off.
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    Sticky Numbers

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Can you arrange the numbers 1 to 17 in a row so that each adjacent pair adds up to a square number?

  • Pocket money
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    Pocket Money

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Which of these pocket money systems would you rather have?

  • Power Countdown
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    Power Countdown

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    In this twist on the well-known Countdown numbers game, use your knowledge of Powers and Roots to make a target.

  • Generating Triples
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    Generating Triples

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    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
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    Standard Index Form Matching

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Can you match these calculations in Standard Index Form with their answers?

  • A question of scale
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    A Question of Scale

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    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?

  • Negative 3 to the power of negative 3.
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    Negative Powers

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    What does this number mean? Which order of 1, 2, 3 and 4 makes the highest value? Which makes the lowest?