Creating and manipulating expressions and formulae

  • Mindreader
    problem

    Mindreader

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    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.
  • The Pillar of Chios
    problem

    The pillar of Chios

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Semicircles are drawn on the sides of a rectangle. Prove that the sum of the areas of the four crescents is equal to the area of the rectangle.

  • Pareq Calc
    problem

    Pareq calc

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Triangle ABC is an equilateral triangle with three parallel lines going through the vertices. Calculate the length of the sides of the triangle if the perpendicular distances between the parallel lines are 1 unit and 2 units.
  • Pinned Squares
    problem

    Pinned squares

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    What is the total number of squares that can be made on a 5 by 5 geoboard?
  • Hike and Hitch
    problem

    Hike and hitch

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Fifteen students had to travel 60 miles. They could use a car, which could only carry 5 students. As the car left with the first 5 (at 40 miles per hour), the remaining 10 commenced hiking along the road (at 4 miles per hour)...
  • Special Sums and Products
    problem

    Special sums and products

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Find some examples of pairs of numbers such that their sum is a factor of their product. eg. 4 + 12 = 16 and 4 × 12 = 48 and 16 is a factor of 48.
  • Quick Times
    problem

    Quick times

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    32 x 38 = 30 x 40 + 2 x 8; 34 x 36 = 30 x 40 + 4 x 6; 56 x 54 = 50 x 60 + 6 x 4; 73 x 77 = 70 x 80 + 3 x 7 Verify and generalise if possible.
  • Adding in Rows
    problem

    Adding in rows

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    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?
  • Around and Back
    problem

    Around and back

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    A cyclist and a runner start off simultaneously around a race track each going at a constant speed. The cyclist goes all the way around and then catches up with the runner. He then instantly turns around and heads back to the starting point where he meets the runner who is just finishing his first circuit. Find the ratio of their speeds.
  • Hot Pursuit
    problem

    Hot pursuit

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    I added together the first 'n' positive integers and found that my answer was a 3 digit number in which all the digits were the same...