3D shapes and their properties

  • Redblue
    problem

    Redblue

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Investigate the number of paths you can take from one vertex to another in these 3D shapes. Is it possible to take an odd number and an even number of paths to the same vertex?
  • Auditorium Steps
    problem

    Auditorium steps

    Age
    7 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    What is the shape of wrapping paper that you would need to completely wrap this model?

  • Icosian Game
    problem

    Icosian game

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    This problem is about investigating whether it is possible to start at one vertex of a platonic solid and visit every other vertex once only returning to the vertex you started at.

  • Triangles to Tetrahedra
    problem

    Triangles to tetrahedra

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    Imagine you have an unlimited number of four types of triangle. How many different tetrahedra can you make?

  • Cola can
    problem

    Cola can

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    An aluminium can contains 330 ml of cola. If the can's diameter is 6 cm what is the can's height?

  • Which solids can we make?
    problem

    Which solids can we make?

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    Interior angles can help us to work out which polygons will tessellate. Can we use similar ideas to predict which polygons combine to create semi-regular solids?

  • problem

    Marbles in a box

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    How many winning lines can you make in a three-dimensional version of noughts and crosses?

  • Nine Colours
    problem

    Nine colours

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    Can you use small coloured cubes to make a 3 by 3 by 3 cube so that each face of the bigger cube contains one of each colour?

  • Dodecawhat
    problem

    Dodecawhat

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Follow instructions to fold sheets of A4 paper into pentagons and assemble them to form a dodecahedron. Calculate the error in the angle of the not perfectly regular pentagons you make.

  • Proximity
    problem

    Proximity

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    We are given a regular icosahedron having three red vertices. Show that it has a vertex that has at least two red neighbours.