Conjecturing and generalising

  • Sum Equals Product
    problem

    Sum Equals Product

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    The sum of the numbers 4 and 1 [1/3] is the same as the product of 4 and 1 [1/3]; that is to say 4 + 1 [1/3] = 4 × 1 [1/3]. What other numbers have the sum equal to the product and can this be so for any whole numbers?

  • Great Granddad
    problem

    Great Granddad

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Great Granddad is very proud of his telegram from the Queen congratulating him on his hundredth birthday and he has friends who are even older than he is... When was he born?

  • Four Coloured Lights
    problem

    Four Coloured Lights

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    Imagine a machine with four coloured lights which respond to different rules. Can you find the smallest possible number which will make all four colours light up?
  • Regular Hexagon Loops
    problem

    Regular Hexagon Loops

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Make some loops out of regular hexagons. What rules can you discover?

  • Maxagon
    problem

    Maxagon

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    What's the greatest number of sides a polygon on a dotty grid could have?

  • Mindreader
    problem

    Mindreader

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    3 out of 3

    A little bit of algebra explains this 'magic'. Ask a friend to pick 3 consecutive numbers and to tell you a multiple of 3. Then ask them to add the four numbers and multiply by 67, and to tell you the last two digits of her answer. Now you can really amaze her by giving the whole answer and the three consecutive numbers used at the start.

  • Quick Times
    problem

    Quick Times

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    3 out of 3

    Can you verify and generalise these equations?

  • Adding in Rows
    problem

    Adding in Rows

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    3 out of 3

    List any 3 numbers. It is always possible to find a subset of adjacent numbers that add up to a multiple of 3. Can you explain why and prove it?

  • One O Five
    problem

    One O Five

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    3 out of 3

    You can work out the number someone else is thinking of as follows. Ask a friend to think of any natural number less than 100. Then ask them to tell you the remainders when this number is divided by 3, 5 and by 7...

  • Sliding Puzzle
    game

    Sliding Puzzle

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
    1 out of 3
    The aim of the game is to slide the green square from the top right hand corner to the bottom left hand corner in the least number of moves.