Resources tagged with Making and proving conjectures similar to Big, Bigger, Biggest:
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Mathematical reasoning & proof. Number theory. Creating and manipulating expressions. Inequality/inequalities. Chemistry. Generalising. Patterned numbers. Index notation/Indices. Making and proving conjectures. Logarithmic functions.There are 52 results
Broad Topics > Using, Applying and Reasoning about Mathematics > Making and proving conjectures
Recent Developments on S.P. Numbers
Age 16 to 18
Take a number, add its digits then multiply the digits together, then multiply these two results. If you get the same number it is an SP number.
Janine's Conjecture
Age 14 to 16 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. . . .
Polite Numbers
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
A polite number can be written as the sum of two or more consecutive positive integers. Find the consecutive sums giving the polite numbers 544 and 424. What characterizes impolite numbers?
DOTS Division
Age 14 to 16 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}.
The Clue Is in the Question
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Starting with one of the mini-challenges, how many of the other mini-challenges will you invent for yourself?
To Prove or Not to Prove
Age 14 to 18
A serious but easily readable discussion of proof in mathematics with some amusing stories and some interesting examples.
Multiplication Square
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Pick a square within a multiplication square and add the numbers on each diagonal. What do you notice?
On the Importance of Pedantry
Age 16 to 18
A introduction to how patterns can be deceiving, and what is and is not a proof.
Plus or Minus
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Make and prove a conjecture about the value of the product of the Fibonacci numbers $F_{n+1}F_{n-1}$.
Poly Fibs
Age 16 to 18 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.
Loopy
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Investigate sequences given by $a_n = \frac{1+a_{n-1}}{a_{n-2}}$ for different choices of the first two terms. Make a conjecture about the behaviour of these sequences. Can you prove your conjecture?
Discrete Trends
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Find the maximum value of n to the power 1/n and prove that it is a maximum.
Alison's Mapping
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Alison has created two mappings. Can you figure out what they do? What questions do they prompt you to ask?
Triangles Within Squares
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Can you find a rule which relates triangular numbers to square numbers?
Cyclic Triangles
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Make and prove a conjecture about the cyclic quadrilateral inscribed in a circle of radius r that has the maximum perimeter and the maximum area.
Why Stop at Three by One
Age 16 to 18
Beautiful mathematics. Two 18 year old students gave eight different proofs of one result then generalised it from the 3 by 1 case to the n by 1 case and proved the general result.
2^n -n Numbers
Age 16 to 18
Yatir from Israel wrote this article on numbers that can be written as $ 2^n-n $ where n is a positive integer.
What's Possible?
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Many numbers can be expressed as the difference of two perfect squares. What do you notice about the numbers you CANNOT make?
Fibonacci Factors
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
For which values of n is the Fibonacci number fn even? Which Fibonnaci numbers are divisible by 3?
Multiplication Arithmagons
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Can you find the values at the vertices when you know the values on the edges of these multiplication arithmagons?
Problem Solving, Using and Applying and Functional Mathematics
Age 5 to 18 Challenge Level:
Problem solving is at the heart of the NRICH site. All the problems give learners opportunities to learn, develop or use mathematical concepts and skills. Read here for more information.
A Little Light Thinking
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Here is a machine with four coloured lights. Can you make two lights switch on at once? Three lights? All four lights?
Sixty-seven Squared
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Evaluate these powers of 67. What do you notice? Can you convince someone what the answer would be to (a million sixes followed by a 7) squared?
Trig Rules OK
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Change the squares in this diagram and spot the property that stays the same for the triangles. Explain...
Few and Far Between?
Age 14 to 18 Challenge Level:
Can you find some Pythagorean Triples where the two smaller numbers differ by 1?
Pythagorean Fibs
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
What have Fibonacci numbers got to do with Pythagorean triples?
Exploring Quadratic Mappings
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Explore the relationship between quadratic functions and their graphs.
Vecten
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Join in this ongoing research. Build squares on the sides of a triangle, join the outer vertices forming hexagons, build further rings of squares and quadrilaterals, investigate.
Painting by Numbers
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
How many different colours of paint would be needed to paint these pictures by numbers?
Steve's Mapping
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Steve has created two mappings. Can you figure out what they do? What questions do they prompt you to ask?
Prime Sequences
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
This group tasks allows you to search for arithmetic progressions in the prime numbers. How many of the challenges will you discover for yourself?
Close to Triangular
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Drawing a triangle is not always as easy as you might think!
An Introduction to Magic Squares
Age 7 to 16
Find out about Magic Squares in this article written for students. Why are they magic?!
OK! Now Prove It
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Make a conjecture about the sum of the squares of the odd positive integers. Can you prove it?
Polycircles
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Show that for any triangle it is always possible to construct 3 touching circles with centres at the vertices. Is it possible to construct touching circles centred at the vertices of any polygon?
Binary Squares
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
If a number N is expressed in binary by using only 'ones,' what can you say about its square (in binary)?
Arrowhead
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
The points P, Q, R and S are the midpoints of the edges of a non-convex quadrilateral.What do you notice about the quadrilateral PQRS and its area?
Quad in Quad
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Join the midpoints of a quadrilateral to get a new quadrilateral. What is special about it?
Summats Clear
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Find the sum, f(n), of the first n terms of the sequence: 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3........p, p, p +1, p + 1,..... Prove that f(a + b) - f(a - b) = ab.
How Old Am I?
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
In 15 years' time my age will be the square of my age 15 years ago. Can you work out my age, and when I had other special birthdays?
Fibonacci Fashion
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
What have Fibonacci numbers to do with solutions of the quadratic equation x^2 - x - 1 = 0 ?
The Kth Sum of N Numbers
Age 16 to 18
Yatir from Israel describes his method for summing a series of triangle numbers.
Least of All
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
A point moves on a line segment. A function depends on the position of the point. Where do you expect the point to be for a minimum of this function to occur.
Fixing It
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
A and B are two fixed points on a circle and RS is a variable diamater. What is the locus of the intersection P of AR and BS?
Conjugate Tracker
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Make a conjecture about the curved track taken by the complex roots of a quadratic equation and use complex conjugates to prove your conjecture.
Triangles Within Pentagons
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Show that all pentagonal numbers are one third of a triangular number.
Triangles Within Triangles
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Can you find a rule which connects consecutive triangular numbers?
Epidemic Modelling
Age 14 to 18 Challenge Level:
Use the computer to model an epidemic. Try out public health policies to control the spread of the epidemic, to minimise the number of sick days and deaths.
Curvy Areas
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Have a go at creating these images based on circles. What do you notice about the areas of the different sections?
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.