Describing patterns and sequences

  • Growing Surprises
    problem

    Growing surprises

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Can you find the connections between linear and quadratic patterns?

  • 1 Step 2 Step
    problem

    1 step 2 step

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Liam's house has a staircase with 12 steps. He can go down the steps one at a time or two at time. In how many different ways can Liam go down the 12 steps?

  • Farey Sequences
    problem

    Farey sequences

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    There are lots of ideas to explore in these sequences of ordered fractions.

  • Seven Squares - Group-worthy Task
    problem

    Seven squares - group-worthy task

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Choose a couple of the sequences. Try to picture how to make the next, and the next, and the next... Can you describe your reasoning?
  • Coordinate Patterns
    problem

    Coordinate patterns

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Charlie and Alison have been drawing patterns on coordinate grids. Can you picture where the patterns lead?

  • Squares in rectangles
    problem

    Squares in rectangles

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    A 2 by 3 rectangle contains 8 squares and a 3 by 4 rectangle contains 20 squares. What sizes of rectangle contain exactly 100 squares? Can you find them all?

  • Triangle Numbers
    problem

    Triangle numbers

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Take a look at the multiplication square. The first eleven triangle numbers have been identified. Can you see a pattern? Does the pattern continue?

  • The Tower of Hanoi - three wooden poles, with several coloured rings of decreasing sizes on the middle pole.
    problem

    Tower of Hanoi

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    The Tower of Hanoi is an ancient mathematical challenge. Working on the building blocks may help you to explain the patterns you notice.

  • Seven Squares
    problem

    Seven squares

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Watch these videos to see how Phoebe, Alice and Luke chose to draw 7 squares. How would they draw 100?

  • Impossibilities
    problem

    Impossibilities

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Just because a problem is impossible doesn't mean it's difficult...