Describing patterns and sequences

  • Archimedes and numerical roots
    problem

    Archimedes and numerical roots

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    The problem is how did Archimedes calculate the lengths of the sides of the polygons which needed him to be able to calculate square roots?
  • Farey Sequences
    problem

    Farey sequences

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    There are lots of ideas to explore in these sequences of ordered fractions.
  • Lastly - well
    problem

    Lastly - well

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    What are the last two digits of 2^(2^2003)?
  • Beads
    problem

    Beads

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Three beads are threaded on a circular wire and are coloured either red or blue. Can you find all four different combinations?
  • Even Up
    problem

    Even up

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Consider all of the five digit numbers which we can form using only the digits 2, 4, 6 and 8. If these numbers are arranged in ascending order, what is the 512th number?
  • Sept03 Sept03 Sept03
    problem

    Sept03 Sept03 Sept03

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

    This number has 903 digits. What is the sum of all 903 digits?

  • Sept 03
    problem

    Sept 03

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    What is the last digit of the number 1 / 5^903 ?
  • Frogs
    problem

    Frogs

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    How many moves does it take to swap over some red and blue frogs? Do you have a method?
  • Sets of Numbers
    problem

    Sets of numbers

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    How many different sets of numbers with at least four members can you find in the numbers in this box?
  • The Mathemagician's Seven Spells
    problem

    The mathemagician's seven spells

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    "Tell me the next two numbers in each of these seven minor spells", chanted the Mathemagician, "And the great spell will crumble away!" Can you help Anna and David break the spell?