Number theory

  • How much can we spend?
    problem
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    How Much Can We Spend?

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    1 out of 3

    A country has decided to have just two different coins. Which totals can be made? Is there a largest total that cannot be made? How do you know?

  • Where can we visit?
    problem
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    Where Can We Visit?

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Charlie and Abi put a counter on 42. They wondered if they could visit all the other numbers on their 1-100 board, moving the counter using just these two operations: ×2 and -5. What do you think?

  • Overlaps
    problem
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    Overlaps

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Can you find ways to put numbers in the overlaps so the rings have equal totals?

  • Impossibilities
    problem
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    Impossibilities

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Just because a problem is impossible doesn't mean it's difficult...

  • Differences
    problem
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    Differences

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    3 out of 3

    Can you guarantee that, for any three numbers you choose, the product of their differences will always be an even number?

  • A little light thinking
    problem
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    A Little Light Thinking

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    1 out of 3

    Here is a machine with four coloured lights. Can you make two lights switch on at once? Three lights? All four lights?

  • Number rules - OK
    problem
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    Number Rules - OK

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Can you produce convincing arguments that a selection of statements about numbers are true?

  • Filling the gaps
    problem
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    Filling the Gaps

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Which numbers can we write as a sum of square numbers?

  • There's a limit
    problem
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    There's a Limit

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
    1 out of 3

    Explore the continued fraction: 2+3/(2+3/(2+3/2+...)) What do you notice when successive terms are taken? What happens to the terms if the fraction goes on indefinitely?

  • Always Perfect
    problem
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    Always Perfect

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Show that if you add 1 to the product of four consecutive numbers the answer is ALWAYS a perfect square.