Creating and manipulating expressions and formulae

  • Pair Squares
    problem

    Pair Squares

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    The sum of any two of the numbers 2, 34 and 47 is a perfect square. Choose three square numbers and find sets of three integers with this property. Generalise to four integers.
  • Diverging
    problem

    Diverging

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Show that for natural numbers x and y if x/y > 1 then x/y>(x+1)/(y+1}>1. Hence prove that the product for i=1 to n of [(2i)/(2i-1)] tends to infinity as n tends to infinity.
  • Plum Tree
    problem

    Plum Tree

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Label this plum tree graph to make it totally magic!
  • W Mates
    problem

    W Mates

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Show there are exactly 12 magic labellings of the Magic W using the numbers 1 to 9. Prove that for every labelling with a magic total T there is a corresponding labelling with a magic total 30-T.
  • Chocolate Maths
    problem

    Chocolate Maths

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    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?
  • More Mathematical Mysteries
    problem

    More Mathematical Mysteries

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Write down a three-digit number Change the order of the digits to get a different number Find the difference between the two three digit numbers Follow the rest of the instructions then try to explain why this works.
  • Algebra from Geometry
    problem

    Algebra From Geometry

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Account of an investigation which starts from the area of an annulus and leads to the formula for the difference of two squares.
  • Chocolate 2010
    problem

    Chocolate 2010

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to eat chocolate. Multiply this number by 2...
  • Fibonacci Factors
    problem

    Fibonacci Factors

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    For which values of n is the Fibonacci number fn even? Which Fibonnaci numbers are divisible by 3?
  • Circles in Circles
    problem

    Circles in Circles

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    This pattern of six circles contains three unit circles. Work out the radii of the other three circles and the relationship between them.