Describing patterns and sequences

  • A green frog.
    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?

  • Picturing Square Numbers
    problem

    Picturing square numbers

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Square numbers can be represented as the sum of consecutive odd numbers. What is the sum of 1 + 3 + ..... + 149 + 151 + 153?

  • Elevenses
    problem

    Elevenses

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    How many pairs of numbers can you find that add up to a multiple of 11? Do you notice anything interesting about your results?

  • Shifting Times Tables
    problem

    Shifting times tables

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Can you find a way to identify times tables after they have been shifted up or down?

  • What numbers can we make?
    problem

    What numbers can we make?

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Imagine we have four bags containing a large number of 1s, 4s, 7s and 10s. What numbers can we make?

  • Odds, Evens and More Evens
    problem

    Odds, evens and more evens

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Alison, Bernard and Charlie have been exploring sequences of odd and even numbers, which raise some intriguing questions...

  • Summing Consecutive Numbers
    problem

    Summing consecutive numbers

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    15 = 7 + 8 and 10 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4. Can you say which numbers can be expressed as the sum of two or more consecutive integers?

  • Magic Letters
    problem

    Magic letters

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Charlie has made a Magic V. Can you use his example to make some more? And how about Magic Ls, Ns and Ws?

  • Beach Huts
    problem

    Beach huts

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Can you figure out how sequences of beach huts are generated?