Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Zig Zag
    problem
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    Zig zag

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Four identical right angled triangles are drawn on the sides of a square. Two face out, two face in. Why do the four vertices marked with dots lie on one line?
  • Three tennis balls on a clay surface.
    problem

    Three balls

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Do points P and Q lie inside, on, or outside this circle?

  • Folding Squares
    problem

    Folding squares

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    The diagonal of a square intersects the line joining one of the unused corners to the midpoint of the opposite side. What do you notice about the line segments produced?
  • Why 24?
    problem
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    Why 24?

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Take any prime number greater than 3 , square it and subtract one. Working on the building blocks will help you to explain what is special about your results.

  • Rhombus in Rectangle
    problem

    Rhombus in rectangle

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Take any rectangle ABCD such that AB > BC. The point P is on AB and Q is on CD. Show that there is exactly one position of P and Q such that APCQ is a rhombus.
  • Mediant madness
    problem

    Mediant madness

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Kyle and his teacher disagree about his test score - who is right?
  • CD Heaven
    problem
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    CD Heaven

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    All CD Heaven stores were given the same number of a popular CD to sell for £24. In their two week sale each store reduces the price of the CD by 25% ... How many CDs did the store sell at each price?

  • Archimedes and numerical roots
    problem

    Archimedes and numerical roots

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    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?
  • Number rules - OK
    problem
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    Number rules - OK

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Can you produce convincing arguments that a selection of statements about numbers are true?

  • In a box
    problem
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    In a box

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Chris and Jo put two red and four blue ribbons in a box. They each pick a ribbon from the box without looking. Jo wins if the two ribbons are the same colour. Is the game fair?