Powers and roots

  • Staircase
    problem

    Staircase

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Solving the equation x^3 = 3 is easy but what about solving equations with a 'staircase' of powers?
  • Mod 7
    problem

    Mod 7

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Find the remainder when 3^{2001} is divided by 7.
  • Root to Poly
    problem

    Root to poly

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Find the polynomial p(x) with integer coefficients such that one solution of the equation p(x)=0 is $1+\sqrt 2+\sqrt 3$.
  • Rationals Between...
    problem

    Rationals between...

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    What fractions can you find between the square roots of 65 and 67?
  • Rational Roots
    problem

    Rational roots

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Given that a, b and c are natural numbers show that if sqrt a+sqrt b is rational then it is a natural number. Extend this to 3 variables.
  • How Many Solutions?
    problem

    How many solutions?

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Find all the solutions to the this equation.
  • Route to Root
    problem

    Route to root

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A sequence of numbers x1, x2, x3, ... starts with x1 = 2, and, if you know any term xn, you can find the next term xn+1 using the formula: xn+1 = (xn + 3/xn)/2 . Calculate the first six terms of this sequence. What do you notice? Calculate a few more terms and find the squares of the terms. Can you prove that the special property you notice about this sequence will apply to all the later terms of the sequence? Write down a formula to give an approximation to the cube root of a number and test it for the cube root of 3 and the cube root of 8. How many terms of the sequence do you have to take before you get the cube root of 8 correct to as many decimal places as your calculator will give? What happens when you try this method for fourth roots or fifth roots etc.?
  • Em'power'ed
    problem

    Em'power'ed

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Find the smallest numbers a, b, and c such that: a^2 = 2b^3 = 3c^5 What can you say about other solutions to this problem?
  • Absurdity Again
    problem

    Absurdity again

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    What is the value of the integers a and b where sqrt(8-4sqrt3) = sqrt a - sqrt b?
  • Ab Surd Ity
    problem

    Ab surd ity

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Find the value of sqrt(2+sqrt3)-sqrt(2-sqrt3)and then of cuberoot(2+sqrt5)+cuberoot(2-sqrt5).