Being able to solve problems flexibly is a key ingredient of what it means to be a good mathematician. The problems in this feature are designed to offer alternative ways of thinking about situations so that students can explore different ways of arriving at a solution.
problem
Favourite
Shear magic
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Explore the area of families of parallelograms and triangles. Can you find rules to work out the areas?
problem
Favourite
Countdown fractions
Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
Here is a chance to play a fractions version of the classic Countdown Game.
problem
Favourite
Triangle in a trapezium
Age
11 to 16
Challenge level
Can you find and prove the relationship between the area of a trapezium and the area of a triangle constructed within it?
problem
Favourite
The square under the hypotenuse
Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
Can you work out the side length of a square that just touches the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle?
problem
Favourite
The farmers' field boundary
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
The farmers want to redraw their field boundary but keep the area the same. Can you advise them?
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A Flexible Approach to Calculating
The tasks in this feature are designed to encourage learners to make, and justify, decisions about the method they use to solve a calculation.