Or search by topic
There are 32 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Learning through exploration, you may find related items under Admin.
Broad Topics > Admin > Learning through explorationWhat does this number mean ? Which order of 1, 2, 3 and 4 makes the highest value ? Which makes the lowest ?
Substitute -1, -2 or -3, into an algebraic expression and you'll get three results. Is it possible to tell in advance which of those three will be the largest ?
How good are you at finding the formula for a number pattern ?
The sine of an angle is equal to the cosine of its complement. Can you explain why and does this rule extend beyond angles of 90 degrees?
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?
Alf Coles writes about how he tries to create 'spaces for exploration' for the students in his classrooms.
The diagonals of a trapezium divide it into four parts. Can you create a trapezium where three of those parts are equal in area?
Experiment with the interactivity of "rolling" regular polygons, and explore how the different positions of the dot affects its vertical and horizontal movement at each stage.
Experiment with the interactivity of "rolling" regular polygons, and explore how the different positions of the red dot affects its speed at each stage.
Experiment with the interactivity of "rolling" regular polygons, and explore how the different positions of the red dot affects the distance it travels at each stage.
Use the interactivity to move Pat. Can you reproduce the graphs and tell their story?
Can you find an efficent way to mix paints in any ratio?
Can you work out how to produce different shades of pink paint?
A farmer is supplying a mix of seeds, nuts and dried apricots to a manufacturer of crunchy cereal bars. What combination of ingredients costing £5 per kg could he supply?
The Man is much smaller than us. Can you use the picture of him next to a mug to estimate his height and how much tea he drinks?
Can you decide whose drink has the strongest blackcurrant flavour from these pictures?
Can you work out what step size to take to ensure you visit all the dots on the circle?
15 = 7 + 8 and 10 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4. Can you say which numbers can be expressed as the sum of two or more consecutive integers?
Draw a square. A second square of the same size slides around the first always maintaining contact and keeping the same orientation. How far does the dot travel?
How could you compare different situation where something random happens ? What sort of things might be the same ? What might be different ?
My average speed for a journey was 50 mph, my return average speed of 70 mph. Why wasn't my average speed for the round trip 60mph ?
A cube is made from smaller cubes, 5 by 5 by 5, then some of those cubes are removed. Can you make the specified shapes, and what is the most and least number of cubes required ?
A bicycle passes along a path and leaves some tracks. Is it possible to say which track was made by the front wheel and which by the back wheel?
Two polygons fit together so that the exterior angle at each end of their shared side is 81 degrees. If both shapes now have to be regular could the angle still be 81 degrees?
I noticed this about streamers that have rotation symmetry : if there was one centre of rotation there always seems to be a second centre that also worked. Can you find a design that has only one centre of rotation ? Or if you thought that was impossible, could you say why ?
When a strip has vertical symmetry there always seems to be a second place where a mirror line could go. Perhaps you can find a design that has only one mirror line across it. Or, if you thought that was impossible, could you explain why ?
A design is repeated endlessly along a line - rather like a stream of paper coming off a roll. Make a strip that matches itself after rotation, or after reflection
Use the Cuisenaire rods environment to investigate ratio. Can you find pairs of rods in the ratio 3:2?
Triangle ABC has equilateral triangles drawn on its edges. Points P, Q and R are the centres of the equilateral triangles. What can you prove about the triangle PQR?
P is a point on the circumference of a circle radius r which rolls, without slipping, inside a circle of radius 2r. What is the locus of P?
Using a loop of string stretched around three of your fingers, what different triangles can you make? Draw them and sort them into groups.