Conjecturing and generalising

  • Chocolate Maths
    problem

    Chocolate Maths

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

    Pick the number of times a week that you eat chocolate. This number must be more than one but less than ten. Multiply this number by 2. Add 5 (for Sunday). Multiply by 50... Can you explain why it works?

  • Dicing with numbers
    problem

    Dicing With Numbers

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    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?

  • Bishop's Paradise
    problem

    Bishop's Paradise

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Weekly Problem 37 - 2013
    Which of the statements about diagonals of polygons is false?

  • Sum Equals Product
    problem

    Sum Equals Product

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

    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
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    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
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    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
    filled star filled star empty star

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

  • Maxagon
    problem

    Maxagon

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

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

  • Mindreader
    problem

    Mindreader

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

    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
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    Can you verify and generalise these equations?