Other tags that relate to Gosh Cosh
Mathematical reasoning & proof. Binomial Theorem. Chemistry. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions. Mathematical induction. Indices. Biology. Fibonacci sequence. Summation of series. Making and proving conjectures.There are 172 results
Broad Topics > Mathematical Thinking > Mathematical reasoning & proof
Water Pistols
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
With n people anywhere in a field each shoots a water pistol at the nearest person. In general who gets wet? What difference does it make if n is odd or even?
Binomial
Age 16 to 18 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
Modulus Arithmetic and a Solution to Dirisibly Yours
Age 16 to 18
Peter Zimmerman from Mill Hill County High School in Barnet, London gives a neat proof that: 5^(2n+1) + 11^(2n+1) + 17^(2n+1) is divisible by 33 for every non negative integer n.
Particularly General
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
By proving these particular identities, prove the existence of general cases.
Binomial Coefficients
Age 14 to 18
An introduction to the binomial coefficient, and exploration of some of the formulae it satisfies.
Proof Sorter - Geometric Series
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Can you correctly order the steps in the proof of the formula for the sum of a geometric series?
Areas and Ratios
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Do you have enough information to work out the area of the shaded quadrilateral?
Breaking the Equation ' Empirical Argument = Proof '
Age 7 to 18
This article stems from research on the teaching of proof and offers guidance on how to move learners from focussing on experimental arguments to mathematical arguments and deductive reasoning.
Integral Inequality
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
An inequality involving integrals of squares of functions.
Sperner's Lemma
Age 16 to 18
An article about the strategy for playing The Triangle Game which appears on the NRICH site. It contains a simple lemma about labelling a grid of equilateral triangles within a triangular frame.
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.
An Alphanumeric
Age 16 to 18
Freddie Manners, of Packwood Haugh School in Shropshire solved an alphanumeric without using the extra information supplied and this article explains his reasoning.
Target Six
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Show that x = 1 is a solution of the equation x^(3/2) - 8x^(-3/2) = 7 and find all other solutions.
Quadratic Harmony
Age 16 to 18 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.
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?
Unit Interval
Age 14 to 18 Challenge Level:
Take any two numbers between 0 and 1. Prove that the sum of the numbers is always less than one plus their product?
Prime AP
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
What can you say about the common difference of an AP where every term is prime?
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. . . .
Proof: A Brief Historical Survey
Age 14 to 18
If you think that mathematical proof is really clearcut and universal then you should read this article.
Big, Bigger, Biggest
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Which is the biggest and which the smallest of $2000^{2002}, 2001^{2001} \text{and } 2002^{2000}$?
Plus or Minus
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Make and prove a conjecture about the value of the product of the Fibonacci numbers $F_{n+1}F_{n-1}$.
Iffy Logic
Age 14 to 18 Challenge Level:
Can you rearrange the cards to make a series of correct mathematical statements?
Generally Geometric
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Generalise the sum of a GP by using derivatives to make the coefficients into powers of the natural numbers.
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.
Pythagorean Golden Means
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Show that the arithmetic mean, geometric mean and harmonic mean of a and b can be the lengths of the sides of a right-angles triangle if and only if a = bx^3, where x is the Golden Ratio.
Sums of Squares and Sums of Cubes
Age 16 to 18
An account of methods for finding whether or not a number can be written as the sum of two or more squares or as the sum of two or more cubes.
Telescoping Functions
Age 16 to 18
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.
Diverging
Age 16 to 18 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.
Proofs with Pictures
Age 14 to 18
Some diagrammatic 'proofs' of algebraic identities and inequalities.
Where Do We Get Our Feet Wet?
Age 16 to 18
Professor Korner has generously supported school mathematics for more than 30 years and has been a good friend to NRICH since it started.
Without Calculus
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Given that u>0 and v>0 find the smallest possible value of 1/u + 1/v given that u + v = 5 by different methods.
Fractional Calculus III
Age 16 to 18
Fractional calculus is a generalisation of ordinary calculus where you can differentiate n times when n is not a whole number.
An Introduction to Number Theory
Age 16 to 18
An introduction to some beautiful results of Number Theory (a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers and integer-valued functions)
Basic Rhythms
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Explore a number pattern which has the same symmetries in different bases.
Impossible Sandwiches
Age 11 to 18
In this 7-sandwich: 7 1 3 1 6 4 3 5 7 2 4 6 2 5 there are 7 numbers between the 7s, 6 between the 6s etc. The article shows which values of n can make n-sandwiches and which cannot.
Tetra Inequalities
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
Prove that in every tetrahedron there is a vertex such that the three edges meeting there have lengths which could be the sides of a triangle.
Modulus Arithmetic and a Solution to Differences
Age 16 to 18
Peter Zimmerman, a Year 13 student at Mill Hill County High School in Barnet, London wrote this account of modulus arithmetic.
Euclid's Algorithm II
Age 16 to 18
We continue the discussion given in Euclid's Algorithm I, and here we shall discover when an equation of the form ax+by=c has no solutions, and when it has infinitely many solutions.
Can it Be
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
When if ever do you get the right answer if you add two fractions by adding the numerators and adding the denominators?
A Biggy
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Find the smallest positive integer N such that N/2 is a perfect cube, N/3 is a perfect fifth power and N/5 is a perfect seventh power.
The Golden Ratio, Fibonacci Numbers and Continued Fractions.
Age 14 to 16
An iterative method for finding the value of the Golden Ratio with explanations of how this involves the ratios of Fibonacci numbers and continued fractions.
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?
Euler's Formula and Topology
Age 16 to 18
Here is a proof of Euler's formula in the plane and on a sphere together with projects to explore cases of the formula for a polygon with holes, for the torus and other solids with holes and the. . . .
Three Ways
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
If x + y = -1 find the largest value of xy by coordinate geometry, by calculus and by algebra.
Mechanical Integration
Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:
To find the integral of a polynomial, evaluate it at some special points and add multiples of these values.
Transitivity
Age 16 to 18
Suppose A always beats B and B always beats C, then would you expect A to beat C? Not always! What seems obvious is not always true. Results always need to be proved in mathematics.
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.