Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Chocolate Maths
    problem

    Chocolate maths

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Pick the number of times a week that you eat chocolate. This number must be more than one but less than ten. Multiply this number by 2. Add 5 (for Sunday). Multiply by 50... Can you explain why it works?
  • Tis Unique
    problem

    Tis unique

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    This addition sum uses all ten digits 0, 1, 2...9 exactly once. Find the sum and show that the one you give is the only possibility.
  • Football crazy Hockey mad
    problem

    Football crazy hockey mad

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    In a league of 5 football teams which play in a round robin tournament show that it is possible for all five teams to be league leaders.
  • More Mathematical Mysteries
    problem

    More mathematical mysteries

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Write down a three-digit number Change the order of the digits to get a different number Find the difference between the two three digit numbers Follow the rest of the instructions then try to explain why this works.
  • Thirty Nine, Seventy Five
    problem

    Thirty nine, seventy five

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    We have exactly 100 coins. There are five different values of coins. We have decided to buy a piece of computer software for 39.75. We have the correct money, not a penny more, not a penny less! Can you discover what the five different types of coins are worth and how many of each we have saved?
  • Magic W Wrap Up
    problem

    Magic W wrap up

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Prove that you cannot form a Magic W with a total of 12 or less or with a with a total of 18 or more.

  • Postage
    problem

    Postage

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    The country Sixtania prints postage stamps with only three values 6 lucres, 10 lucres and 15 lucres (where the currency is in lucres).Which values cannot be made up with combinations of these postage stamps? Prove that all other values can be made up.
  • Power Quady
    problem

    Power quady

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Find all real solutions of the equation (x^2-7x+11)^(x^2-11x+30) = 1.
  • In Constantly Passing
    problem

    In constantly passing

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A car is travelling along a dual carriageway at constant speed. Every 3 minutes a bus passes going in the opposite direction, while every 6 minutes a bus passes the car travelling in the same direction. Buses leave the depot at regular intervals; they travel along the dual carriageway and back to the depot at a constant speed. At what interval do the buses leave the depot?