# Search by Topic

#### Resources tagged with Manipulating algebraic expressions/formulae similar to Giants:

Filter by: Content type:
Stage:
Challenge level:

### There are 58 results

Broad Topics > Algebra > Manipulating algebraic expressions/formulae

### Consecutive Squares

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

The squares of any 8 consecutive numbers can be arranged into two sets of four numbers with the same sum. True of false?

### How Many Solutions?

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Find all the solutions to the this equation.

### Sums of Squares

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Prove that 3 times the sum of 3 squares is the sum of 4 squares. Rather easier, can you prove that twice the sum of two squares always gives the sum of two squares?

### Root to Poly

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Find the polynomial p(x) with integer coefficients such that one solution of the equation p(x)=0 is $1+\sqrt 2+\sqrt 3$.

### Perfectly Square

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

The sums of the squares of three related numbers is also a perfect square - can you explain why?

### Magic Sums and Products

##### Stage: 3 and 4

How to build your own magic squares.

### Binomial

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

By considering powers of (1+x), show that the sum of the squares of the binomial coefficients from 0 to n is 2nCn

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Robert noticed some interesting patterns when he highlighted square numbers in a spreadsheet. Can you prove that the patterns will continue?

### Simplifying Doughnut

##### Stage: 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

An algebra task which depends on members of the group noticing the needs of others and responding.

### There and Back

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Brian swims at twice the speed that a river is flowing, downstream from one moored boat to another and back again, taking 12 minutes altogether. How long would it have taken him in still water?

### Unusual Long Division - Square Roots Before Calculators

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

However did we manage before calculators? Is there an efficient way to do a square root if you have to do the work yourself?

### Algebra from Geometry

##### Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level:

Account of an investigation which starts from the area of an annulus and leads to the formula for the difference of two squares.

### Really Mr. Bond

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

115^2 = (110 x 120) + 25, that is 13225 895^2 = (890 x 900) + 25, that is 801025 Can you explain what is happening and generalise?

### Algebra Match

##### Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level:

A task which depends on members of the group noticing the needs of others and responding.

### Reciprocals

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Prove that the product of the sum of n positive numbers with the sum of their reciprocals is not less than n^2.

### Three Ways

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

If x + y = -1 find the largest value of xy by coordinate geometry, by calculus and by algebra.

### System Speak

##### Stage: 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

Solve the system of equations: ab = 1 bc = 2 cd = 3 de = 4 ea = 6

### Absurdity Again

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

What is the value of the integers a and b where sqrt(8-4sqrt3) = sqrt a - sqrt b?

### ' Tis Whole

##### Stage: 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

Take a few whole numbers away from a triangle number. If you know the mean of the remaining numbers can you find the triangle number and which numbers were removed?

### Back to Basics

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Find b where 3723(base 10) = 123(base b).

### Pair Squares

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

The sum of any two of the numbers 2, 34 and 47 is a perfect square. Choose three square numbers and find sets of three integers with this property. Generalise to four integers.

### Telescoping Functions

##### Stage: 5

Take a complicated fraction with the product of five quartics top and bottom and reduce this to a whole number. This is a numerical example involving some clever algebra.

### DOTS Division

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Take any pair of two digit numbers x=ab and y=cd where, without loss of generality, ab > cd . Form two 4 digit numbers r=abcd and s=cdab and calculate: {r^2 - s^2} /{x^2 - y^2}.

### Always Two

##### Stage: 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

Find all the triples of numbers a, b, c such that each one of them plus the product of the other two is always 2.

### Cosines Rule

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Three points A, B and C lie in this order on a line, and P is any point in the plane. Use the Cosine Rule to prove the following statement.

### Salinon

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

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?

### Sums of Pairs

##### Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level:

Jo has three numbers which she adds together in pairs. When she does this she has three different totals: 11, 17 and 22 What are the three numbers Jo had to start with?”

### And So on - and on -and On

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Can you find the value of this function involving algebraic fractions for x=2000?

### Complex Partial Fractions

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

To break down an algebraic fraction into partial fractions in which all the denominators are linear and all the numerators are constants you simetimes need complex numbers.

### Particularly General

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

By proving these particular identities, prove the existence of general cases.

### Graphic Biology

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Several graphs of the sort occurring commonly in biology are given. How many processes can you map to each graph?

### Mechanical Integration

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

To find the integral of a polynomial, evaluate it at some special points and add multiples of these values.

### Look Before You Leap

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Relate these algebraic expressions to geometrical diagrams.

### Never Prime

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

If a two digit number has its digits reversed and the smaller of the two numbers is subtracted from the larger, prove the difference can never be prime.

### Lap Times

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Two cyclists, practising on a track, pass each other at the starting line and go at constant speeds... Can you find lap times that are such that the cyclists will meet exactly half way round the. . . .

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

If a sum invested gains 10% each year how long before it has doubled its value?

### Polynomial Relations

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Given any two polynomials in a single variable it is always possible to eliminate the variable and obtain a formula showing the relationship between the two polynomials. Try this one.

### Nicely Similar

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

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?

### Diverging

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Show that for natural numbers x and y if x/y > 1 then x/y>(x+1)/(y+1}>1. Hence prove that the product for i=1 to n of [(2i)/(2i-1)] tends to infinity as n tends to infinity.

### Interpolating Polynomials

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Given a set of points (x,y) with distinct x values, find a polynomial that goes through all of them, then prove some results about the existence and uniqueness of these polynomials.

### Matchless

##### Stage: 3 and 4 Challenge Level:

There is a particular value of x, and a value of y to go with it, which make all five expressions equal in value, can you find that x, y pair ?

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Find all positive integers a and b for which the two equations: x^2-ax+b = 0 and x^2-bx+a = 0 both have positive integer solutions.

### Always Perfect

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Show that if you add 1 to the product of four consecutive numbers the answer is ALWAYS a perfect square.

### Janine's Conjecture

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

Janine noticed, while studying some cube numbers, that if you take three consecutive whole numbers and multiply them together and then add the middle number of the three, you get the middle number. . . .

### Poly Fibs

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

A sequence of polynomials starts 0, 1 and each poly is given by combining the two polys in the sequence just before it. Investigate and prove results about the roots of the polys.

### Operating Machines

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

What functions can you make using the function machines RECIPROCAL and PRODUCT and the operator machines DIFF and INT?

### Calculus Countdown

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Can you hit the target functions using a set of input functions and a little calculus and algebra?

### Sweeping Satellite

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Derive an equation which describes satellite dynamics.

### Chocolate 2010

##### Stage: 4 Challenge Level:

First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to eat chocolate. Multiply this number by 2...

### More Polynomial Equations

##### Stage: 5 Challenge Level:

Find relationships between the polynomials a, b and c which are polynomials in n giving the sums of the first n natural numbers, squares and cubes respectively.