Other tags that relate to The Greedy Algorithm
Properties of numbers. History of number systems. Continued fractions. Fractions. Famous mathematicians. Factors and multiples. Ratio. Calculating with fractions. Generalising. Equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages.There are 125 results
Broad Topics > Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae > Creating and manipulating expressions and formulae
Sum Equals Product
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
The sum of the numbers 4 and 1 [1/3] is the same as the product of 4 and 1 [1/3]; that is to say 4 + 1 [1/3] = 4 � 1 [1/3]. What other numbers have the sum equal to the product and can this be so for. . . .
Special Sums and Products
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Find some examples of pairs of numbers such that their sum is a factor of their product. eg. 4 + 12 = 16 and 4 × 12 = 48 and 16 is a factor of 48.
Summing Consecutive Numbers
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
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?
Always the Same
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Arrange the numbers 1 to 16 into a 4 by 4 array. Choose a number. Cross out the numbers on the same row and column. Repeat this process. Add up you four numbers. Why do they always add up to 34?
Is it Magic or Is it Maths?
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Here are three 'tricks' to amaze your friends. But the really clever trick is explaining to them why these 'tricks' are maths not magic. Like all good magicians, you should practice by trying. . . .
Chocolate Maths
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Pick the number of times a week that you eat chocolate. This number must be more than one but less than ten. Multiply this number by 2. Add 5 (for Sunday). Multiply by 50... Can you explain why it. . . .
Mind Reading
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Think of a number, add one, double it, take away 3, add the number you first thought of, add 7, divide by 3 and take away the number you first thought of. You should now be left with 2. How do I. . . .
Even So
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Find some triples of whole numbers a, b and c such that a^2 + b^2 + c^2 is a multiple of 4. Is it necessarily the case that a, b and c must all be even? If so, can you explain why?
Hot Pursuit
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
I added together the first 'n' positive integers and found that my answer was a 3 digit number in which all the digits were the same...
How Much Can We Spend?
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
A country has decided to have just two different coins, 3z and 5z coins. Which totals can be made? Is there a largest total that cannot be made? How do you know?
Adding in Rows
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
List any 3 numbers. It is always possible to find a subset of adjacent numbers that add up to a multiple of 3. Can you explain why and prove it?
Partitioning Revisited
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
We can show that (x + 1)² = x² + 2x + 1 by considering the area of an (x + 1) by (x + 1) square. Show in a similar way that (x + 2)² = x² + 4x + 4
Fair Shares?
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
A mother wants to share a sum of money by giving each of her children in turn a lump sum plus a fraction of the remainder. How can she do this in order to share the money out equally?
Quick Times
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
32 x 38 = 30 x 40 + 2 x 8; 34 x 36 = 30 x 40 + 4 x 6; 56 x 54 = 50 x 60 + 6 x 4; 73 x 77 = 70 x 80 + 3 x 7 Verify and generalise if possible.
More Mathematical Mysteries
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Write down a three-digit number Change the order of the digits to get a different number Find the difference between the two three digit numbers Follow the rest of the instructions then try. . . .
Seven Up
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
The number 27 is special because it is three times the sum of its digits 27 = 3 (2 + 7). Find some two digit numbers that are SEVEN times the sum of their digits (seven-up numbers)?
Number Pyramids
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Try entering different sets of numbers in the number pyramids. How does the total at the top change?
Please Explain
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Visitors to Earth from the distant planet of Zub-Zorna were amazed when they found out that when the digits in this multiplication were reversed, the answer was the same! Find a way to explain. . . .
Mindreader
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
A little bit of algebra explains this 'magic'. Ask a friend to pick 3 consecutive numbers and to tell you a multiple of 3. Then ask them to add the four numbers and multiply by 67, and to tell you. . . .
Regular Hexagon Loops
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Make some loops out of regular hexagons. What rules can you discover?
Multiply the Addition Square
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
If you take a three by three square on a 1-10 addition square and multiply the diagonally opposite numbers together, what is the difference between these products. Why?
Legs Eleven
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Take any four digit number. Move the first digit to the end and move the rest along. Now add your two numbers. Did you get a multiple of 11?
The Number Jumbler
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
The Number Jumbler can always work out your chosen symbol. Can you work out how?
Special Numbers
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
My two digit number is special because adding the sum of its digits to the product of its digits gives me my original number. What could my number be?
Lower Bound
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
What would you get if you continued this sequence of fraction sums? 1/2 + 2/1 = 2/3 + 3/2 = 3/4 + 4/3 =
Always a Multiple?
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Think of a two digit number, reverse the digits, and add the numbers together. Something special happens...
Pair Products
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Choose four consecutive whole numbers. Multiply the first and last numbers together. Multiply the middle pair together. What do you notice?
Perimeter Expressions
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Create some shapes by combining two or more rectangles. What can you say about the areas and perimeters of the shapes you can make?
Your Number Is...
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Think of a number and follow the machine's instructions... I know what your number is! Can you explain how I know?
Think of Two Numbers
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Think of two whole numbers under 10, and follow the steps. I can work out both your numbers very quickly. How?
Semi-square
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
What is the ratio of the area of a square inscribed in a semicircle to the area of the square inscribed in the entire circle?
Perfectly Square
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
The sums of the squares of three related numbers is also a perfect square - can you explain why?
More Number Pyramids
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
When number pyramids have a sequence on the bottom layer, some interesting patterns emerge...
Can They Be Equal?
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Can you find rectangles where the value of the area is the same as the value of the perimeter?
One and Three
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
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. . . .
Good Work If You Can Get It
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
A job needs three men but in fact six people do it. When it is finished they are all paid the same. How much was paid in total, and much does each man get if the money is shared as Fred suggests?
Why 8?
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Choose any four consecutive even numbers. Multiply the two middle numbers together. Multiply the first and last numbers. Now subtract your second answer from the first. Try it with your own. . . .
Days and Dates
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Investigate how you can work out what day of the week your birthday will be on next year, and the year after...
How Many Miles to Go?
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
How many more miles must the car travel before the numbers on the milometer and the trip meter contain the same digits in the same order?
Sixational
Age 14 to 18 Challenge Level:
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. . . .
How Big?
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
If the sides of the triangle in the diagram are 3, 4 and 5, what is the area of the shaded square?
Odd Differences
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
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.
Hallway Borders
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
What are the possible dimensions of a rectangular hallway if the number of tiles around the perimeter is exactly half the total number of tiles?
Boxed In
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
A box has faces with areas 3, 12 and 25 square centimetres. What is the volume of the box?
Generating Triples
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
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?
Robert's Spreadsheet
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Robert noticed some interesting patterns when he highlighted square numbers in a spreadsheet. Can you prove that the patterns will continue?
Sitting Pretty
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
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?
Really Mr. Bond
Age 14 to 16 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?
Your Number Was...
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Think of a number and follow my instructions. Tell me your answer, and I'll tell you what you started with! Can you explain how I know?
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.