Conjecturing and generalising

  • 1 Step 2 Step
    problem

    1 step 2 step

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

    Liam's house has a staircase with 12 steps. He can go down the steps one at a time or two at time. In how many different ways can Liam go down the 12 steps?

  • problem

    Flashing lights

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

    Norrie sees two lights flash at the same time, then one of them flashes every 4th second, and the other flashes every 5th second. How many times do they flash together during a whole minute?

  • problem

    Abundant numbers

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

    48 is called an abundant number because it is less than the sum of its factors (without itself). Can you find some more abundant numbers?

  • Zios and Zepts
    problem

    Zios and Zepts

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

    On the planet Vuv there are two sorts of creatures. The Zios have 3 legs and the Zepts have 7 legs. The great planetary explorer Nico counted 52 legs. How many Zios and how many Zepts were there?

  • Rope Mat
    problem

    Rope mat

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    How many centimetres of rope will I need to make another mat just like the one I have here?
  • What's in a Name?
    problem

    What's in a name?

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    What do you notice about these squares of numbers? What is the same? What is different?

  • Magic Circles
    problem

    Magic circles

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Put the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 into the squares so that the numbers on each circle add up to the same amount. Can you find the rule for giving another set of six numbers?
  • Broken Toaster
    problem

    Broken toaster

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Only one side of a two-slice toaster is working. What is the quickest way to toast both sides of three slices of bread?
  • Dicing with numbers
    problem

    Dicing with numbers

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

    In how many ways can you arrange three dice side by side on a surface so that the sum of the numbers on each of the four faces (top, bottom, front and back) is equal?