Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Be reasonable
    problem

    Be reasonable

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Prove that sqrt2, sqrt3 and sqrt5 cannot be terms of ANY arithmetic progression.
  • OK! Now prove it
    problem

    OK! Now prove it

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Make a conjecture about the sum of the squares of the odd positive integers. Can you prove it?

  • Shape and territory
    problem
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    Shape and territory

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    If for any triangle ABC tan(A - B) + tan(B - C) + tan(C - A) = 0 what can you say about the triangle?
  • Exhaustion
    problem

    Exhaustion

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Find the positive integer solutions of the equation (1+1/a)(1+1/b)(1+1/c) = 2
  • Binomial
    problem
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    Binomial

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    By considering powers of (1+x), show that the sum of the squares of the binomial coefficients from 0 to n is 2nCn
  • Converse
    problem

    Converse

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Clearly if a, b and c are the lengths of the sides of an equilateral triangle then a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = ab + bc + ca. Is the converse true?
  • Sixational
    problem

    Sixational

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    The nth term of a sequence is given by the formula n^3 + 11n. Find the first four terms of the sequence given by this formula and the first term of the sequence which is bigger than one million. Prove that all terms of the sequence are divisible by 6.
  • Binary Squares
    problem

    Binary squares

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    If a number N is expressed in binary by using only 'ones,' what can you say about its square (in binary)?
  • Basic Rhythms
    problem

    Basic rhythms

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Explore a number pattern which has the same symmetries in different bases.
  • Mechanical Integration
    problem
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    Mechanical integration

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    To find the integral of a polynomial, evaluate it at some special points and add multiples of these values.