Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Inscribed in a Circle
    problem
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    Inscribed in a Circle

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    The area of a square inscribed in a circle with a unit radius is 2. What is the area of these other regular polygons inscribed in a circle with a unit radius?

  • Painted Cube
    problem
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    Painted Cube

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Imagine a large cube made from small red cubes being dropped into a pot of yellow paint. How many of the small cubes will have yellow paint on their faces?

  • The Spider and the Fly
    problem
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    The Spider and the Fly

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    A spider is sitting in the middle of one of the smallest walls in a room and a fly is resting beside the window. What is the shortest distance the spider would have to crawl to catch the fly?

  • Multiplication square
    problem
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    Multiplication Square

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Pick a square within a multiplication square and add the numbers on each diagonal. What do you notice?

  • Triangle in a Triangle
    problem
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    Triangle in a Triangle

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Can you work out the fraction of the original triangle that is covered by the inner triangle?

  • Trapezium Four
    problem
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    Trapezium Four

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    The diagonals of a trapezium divide it into four parts. Can you create a trapezium where three of those parts are equal in area?

  • Nicely Similar
    problem
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    Nicely Similar

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    If the hypotenuse (base) length is 100cm and if an extra line splits the base into 36cm and 64cm parts, what were the side lengths for the original right-angled triangle?

  • Gutter
    problem
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    Gutter

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Manufacturers need to minimise the amount of material used to make their product. What is the best cross-section for a gutter?

  • For richer for poorer
    problem
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    For Richer for Poorer

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Charlie has moved between countries and the average income of both has increased. How can this be so?

  • problem
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    Immersion

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Various solids are lowered into a beaker of water. How does the water level rise in each case?