Snails' Trails
Alice and Brian are snails who live on a wall and can only travel along the cracks. Alice wants to go to see Brian. How far is the shortest route along the cracks? Is there more than one way to go?
Problem
Alice and Brian
Alice and Brian are snails. They live on a wall. Alice at A and Brian at B. They can only travel along the cement cracks. The bricks are too rough for them.
Alice wants to visit Brian.
How far is the shortest route along the cracks?
Is there more than one way to go?
What is the longest route without going along any crack twice?
Getting Started
Are your routes all different from each other? How do you know?
How will you record your routes?
Teachers' Resources
Snails' Trails
Alice and Brian
Alice and Brian are snails. They live on a wall. Alice at A and Brian at B. They can only travel along the cement cracks. The bricks are too rough for them.
Alice wants to visit Brian.
How far is the shortest route along the cracks?
Is there more than one way to go?
What is the longest route without going along any crack twice?
Using NRICH Tasks Richly describes ways in which teachers and learners can work with NRICH tasks in the classroom.
Why do this problem?
Key questions
Possible extension
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