Modular arithmetic

  • Two Much
    problem

    Two Much

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Explain why the arithmetic sequence 1, 14, 27, 40, ... contains many terms of the form 222...2 where only the digit 2 appears.

  • The Best Card Trick?
    problem

    The Best Card Trick?

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Time for a little mathemagic! Choose any five cards from a pack and show four of them to your partner. How can they work out the fifth?

  • Mod 3
    problem

    Mod 3

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Prove that if a^2+b^2 is a multiple of 3 then both a and b are multiples of 3.

  • Grid lockout
    problem

    Grid Lockout

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    What remainders do you get when square numbers are divided by 4?
  • Knapsack
    problem

    Knapsack

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    You have worked out a secret code with a friend. Every letter in the alphabet can be represented by a binary value.

  • Zeller's Birthday
    problem

    Zeller's Birthday

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    What day of the week were you born on? Do you know? Here's a way to find out.

  • Obviously?
    problem

    Obviously?

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Find the values of n for which 1^n + 8^n - 3^n - 6^n is divisible by 6.

  • Dirisibly Yours
    problem

    Dirisibly Yours

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Find and explain a short and neat proof that 5^(2n+1) + 11^(2n+1) + 17^(2n+1) is divisible by 33 for every non negative integer n.

  • Sixinit
    problem

    Sixinit

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Choose any whole number n, cube it, add 11n, and divide by 6. What do you notice?

  • Happy \birthDay
    problem

    Happy BirthDay

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Can you interpret this algorithm to determine the day on which you were born?