Creating and manipulating expressions and formulae

There are 198 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Creating and manipulating expressions and formulae
Hand Swap
problem

Hand swap

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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My train left London between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and arrived in Paris between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. At the start and end of the journey the hands on my watch were in exactly the same positions but the minute hand and hour hand had swopped places. What time did the train leave London and how long did the journey take?
Never Prime
problem

Never prime

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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If a two digit number has its digits reversed and the smaller of the two numbers is subtracted from the larger, prove the difference can never be prime.
Mediant madness
problem

Mediant madness

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Kyle and his teacher disagree about his test score - who is right?
Screen Shot
problem

Screen shot

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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A moveable screen slides along a mirrored corridor towards a centrally placed light source. A ray of light from that source is directed towards a wall of the corridor, which it strikes at 45 degrees before being reflected across to the opposite wall and so on until it hits the screen.
Integer Indices
problem

Integer indices

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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From this sum of powers, can you find the sum of the indices?
Divisible Expression
problem

Divisible expression

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Can you show this algebraic expression is divisible by 4?
Card Trick 1
problem

Card trick 1

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Can you explain how this card trick works?
Ball Bearings
problem

Ball bearings

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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If a is the radius of the axle, b the radius of each ball-bearing, and c the radius of the hub, why does the number of ball bearings n determine the ratio c/a? Find a formula for c/a in terms of n.
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 medieval octagon
problem

The medieval octagon

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Medieval stonemasons used a method to construct octagons using ruler and compasses... Is the octagon regular? Proof please.