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.
The sums of the squares of three related numbers is also a perfect square - can you explain why?
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. . . .
Show that if you add 1 to the product of four consecutive numbers the answer is ALWAYS a perfect square.
Can you make sense of these three proofs of Pythagoras' Theorem?
Can you explain why a sequence of operations always gives you perfect squares?
Can you find a rule which relates triangular numbers to square numbers?
Kyle and his teacher disagree about his test score - who is right?
The problem is how did Archimedes calculate the lengths of the sides of the polygons which needed him to be able to calculate square roots?
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?”
How good are you at finding the formula for a number pattern ?
Can you show that you can share a square pizza equally between two people by cutting it four times using vertical, horizontal and diagonal cuts through any point inside the square?
Show that all pentagonal numbers are one third of a triangular number.
A, B & C own a half, a third and a sixth of a coin collection. Each grab some coins, return some, then share equally what they had put back, finishing with their own share. How rich are they?
Pick a square within a multiplication square and add the numbers on each diagonal. What do you notice?
Can you find a rule which connects consecutive triangular numbers?
What would you get if you continued this sequence of fraction sums? 1/2 + 2/1 = 2/3 + 3/2 = 3/4 + 4/3 =
Imagine a large cube made from small red cubes being dropped into a pot of yellow paint. How many of the small cubes will have yellow paint on their faces?
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}.
Take any two numbers between 0 and 1. Prove that the sum of the numbers is always less than one plus their product?
Choose four consecutive whole numbers. Multiply the first and last numbers together. Multiply the middle pair together. What do you notice?
A 2-Digit number is squared. When this 2-digit number is reversed and squared, the difference between the squares is also a square. What is the 2-digit number?
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?
Semicircles are drawn on the sides of a rectangle. Prove that the sum of the areas of the four crescents is equal to the area of the rectangle.
What is the total number of squares that can be made on a 5 by 5 geoboard?
Many numbers can be expressed as the difference of two perfect squares. What do you notice about the numbers you CANNOT make?
The nth term of a sequence is given by the formula n^3 + 11n . Find the first four terms of the sequence given by this formula and the first term of the sequence which is bigger than one million. . . .
Some students have been working out the number of strands needed for different sizes of cable. Can you make sense of their solutions?
Let S1 = 1 , S2 = 2 + 3, S3 = 4 + 5 + 6 ,........ Calculate S17.
Account of an investigation which starts from the area of an annulus and leads to the formula for the difference of two squares.
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?
The heptathlon is an athletics competition consisting of 7 events. Can you make sense of the scoring system in order to advise a heptathlete on the best way to reach her target?
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.
The diagram illustrates the formula: 1 + 3 + 5 + ... + (2n - 1) = n² Use the diagram to show that any odd number is the difference of two squares.
This article explains how to make your own magic square to mark a special occasion with the special date of your choice on the top line.
The squares of any 8 consecutive numbers can be arranged into two sets of four numbers with the same sum. True of false?
Find the five distinct digits N, R, I, C and H in the following nomogram
Can you convince me of each of the following: If a square number is multiplied by a square number the product is ALWAYS a square number...
Robert noticed some interesting patterns when he highlighted square numbers in a spreadsheet. Can you prove that the patterns will continue?
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?
Charlie likes tablecloths that use as many colours as possible, but insists that his tablecloths have some symmetry. Can you work out how many colours he needs for different tablecloth designs?
Given an equilateral triangle inside an isosceles triangle, can you find a relationship between the angles?
Think of a two digit number, reverse the digits, and add the numbers together. Something special happens...
Polygons drawn on square dotty paper have dots on their perimeter (p) and often internal (i) ones as well. Find a relationship between p, i and the area of the polygons.
A circle of radius r touches two sides of a right angled triangle, sides x and y, and has its centre on the hypotenuse. Can you prove the formula linking x, y and r?
Two motorboats travelling up and down a lake at constant speeds leave opposite ends A and B at the same instant, passing each other, for the first time 600 metres from A, and on their return, 400. . . .
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?
Sets of integers like 3, 4, 5 are called Pythagorean Triples, because they could be the lengths of the sides of a right-angled triangle. Can you find any more?