Conjecturing and generalising
-
-
problemRepeaters
Choose any 3 digits and make a 6 digit number by repeating the 3 digits in the same order (e.g. 594594). Explain why whatever digits you choose the number will always be divisible by 7, 11 and 13. -
problemLower Bound
What would you get if you continued this sequence of fraction sums? 1/2 + 2/1 = 2/3 + 3/2 = 3/4 + 4/3 = -
problemMini-Max
Consider all two digit numbers (10, 11, . . . ,99). In writing down all these numbers, which digits occur least often, and which occur most often ? What about three digit numbers, four digit numbers and so on? -
problemConverging Means
Take any two positive numbers. Calculate the arithmetic and geometric means. Repeat the calculations to generate a sequence of arithmetic means and geometric means. Make a note of what happens to the two sequences. -
problemCalendar Calculations
Try adding together the dates of all the days in one week. Now multiply the first date by 7 and add 21. Can you explain what happens? -
problemPath to the Stars
Is it possible to draw a 5-pointed star without taking your pencil off the paper? Is it possible to draw a 6-pointed star in the same way without taking your pen off? -
problemHidden Rectangles
Rectangles are considered different if they vary in size or have different locations. How many different rectangles can be drawn on a chessboard? -
problemMove a Match
How can you arrange these 10 matches in four piles so that when you move one match from three of the piles into the fourth, you end up with the same arrangement? -
problemOverarch 2
Bricks are 20cm long and 10cm high. How high could an arch be built without mortar on a flat horizontal surface, to overhang by 1 metre? How big an overhang is it possible to make like this?