Combinations

There are 149 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Combinations
Five More Coins
problem

Five More Coins

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Could Ben have any amount of money between 5p and £2 in his pocket if he has five coins?
Fruity Pairs
problem

Fruity Pairs

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Which two items of fruit could Kate and Sam choose? Can you order the prices from lowest to highest?
Unequal Exam
problem

Unequal Exam

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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120 students sit an exam with 100 marks available. What is the smallest number of pairs that are awarded the same mark?
Nine or Ten?
problem

Nine or Ten?

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Is a score of 9 more likely than a score of 10 when you roll three dice?
Polydron
problem

Polydron

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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This activity investigates how you might make squares and pentominoes from Polydron.
Placeholder: several colourful numbers
article

Binomial Coefficients

An introduction to the binomial coefficient, and exploration of some of the formulae it satisfies.
More plant spaces
problem

More plant spaces

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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This challenging activity involves finding different ways to distribute fifteen items among four sets, when the sets must include three, four, five and six items.
More children and plants
problem

More children and plants

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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This challenge extends the Plants investigation so now four or more children are involved.
Those Tea Cups
problem

Those Tea Cups

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Place the 16 different combinations of cup/saucer in this 4 by 4 arrangement so that no row or column contains more than one cup or saucer of the same colour.
Button-Up Some More
problem

Button-Up Some More

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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How many ways can you find to do up all four buttons on my coat? How about if I had five buttons? Six ...?