Number bases

  • Fingers and Hands
    problem

    Fingers and Hands

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    How would you count the number of fingers in these pictures?
  • It must be 2000
    problem

    It Must Be 2000

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Here are many ideas for you to investigate - all linked with the number 2000.
  • Sometimes we lose things
    problem

    Sometimes We Lose Things

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Well now, what would happen if we lost all the nines in our number system? Have a go at writing the numbers out in this way and have a look at the multiplications table.
  • Nim-like Games
    game

    Nim-Like Games

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
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    A collection of games on the NIM theme
  • A bowl of plain pasta.
    problem

    Basically

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    The number 3723 (in base 10) is written as 123 in another base. What is that base?

  • Back to the Planet of Vuvv
    problem

    Back to the Planet of Vuvv

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    There are two forms of counting on Vuvv - Zios count in base 3 and Zepts count in base 7. Can you work out in which direction the Zios and Zepts were looking, based on the information you're given?

  • 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.

  • Secret Transmissions
    problem

    Secret Transmissions

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    How can Agent X transmit data on a faulty line and be sure that her message will get through?

  • Phew I'm Factored
    problem

    Phew I'm Factored

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Explore the factors of the numbers which are written as 10101 in different number bases. Prove that the numbers 10201, 11011 and 10101 are composite in any base.

  • 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)?