article
The power of dimensional analysis
An introduction to a useful tool to check the validity of an equation.
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article
Natural born mathematicians
Helen Joyce interviews the neuropsychologist Brian Butterworth
whose research has shown that we are all born with a "built-in"
sense of cardinal number.
article
Whole number dynamics II
This article extends the discussions in "Whole number dynamics I". Continuing the proof that, for all starting points, the Happy Number sequence goes into a loop or homes in on a fixed point.
problem
Favourite
Doplication
7 to 11
We can arrange dots in a similar way to the 5 on a dice and they usually sit quite well into a rectangular shape. How many altogether in this 3 by 5? What happens for other sizes?
problem
The bridges of Konigsberg
11 to 18
Investigate how networks can be used to solve a problem for the 18th Century inhabitants of Konigsberg.
problem
Gosh cosh
16 to 18
Explore the hyperbolic functions sinh and cosh using what you know about the exponential function.
problem
Clocked
11 to 14
Is it possible to rearrange the numbers 1,2......12 around a clock
face in such a way that every two numbers in adjacent positions
differ by any of 3, 4 or 5 hours?
problem
Jumping gerbils
14 to 16
A conveyor belt, with tins placed at regular intervals, is moving
at a steady rate towards a labelling machine. A gerbil starts from
the beginning of the belt and jumps from tin to tin.
problem
Favourite
More bridge building
16 to 18
Which parts of these framework bridges are in tension and which parts are in compression?