Ratio and proportion

problem
Pumpkin pie problem

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Peter wanted to make two pies for a party. His mother had a recipe for him to use. However, she always made 80 pies at a time. Did Peter have enough ingredients to make two pumpkin pies?
problem
Racing odds

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

In a race the odds are: 2 to 1 against the rhinoceros winning and 3 to 2 against the hippopotamus winning. What are the odds against the elephant winning if the race is fair?
problem
Semi-square

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

What is the ratio of the area of a square inscribed in a semicircle to the area of the square inscribed in the entire circle?
problem
Oh for the mathematics of yesteryear

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

A garrison of 600 men has just enough bread ... but, with the news that the enemy was planning an attack... How many ounces of bread a day must each man in the garrison be allowed, to hold out 45 days against the siege of the enemy?
problem
Pent

Age

14 to 18

Challenge level

The diagram shows a regular pentagon with sides of unit length. Find all the angles in the diagram. Prove that the quadrilateral shown in red is a rhombus.
problem
Rhombus in rectangle

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

Take any rectangle ABCD such that AB > BC. The point P is on AB and Q is on CD. Show that there is exactly one position of P and Q such that APCQ is a rhombus.
problem
Around and back

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

A cyclist and a runner start off simultaneously around a race track each going at a constant speed. The cyclist goes all the way around and then catches up with the runner. He then instantly turns around and heads back to the starting point where he meets the runner who is just finishing his first circuit. Find the ratio of their speeds.
problem
Five circuits, seven spins

Age

16 to 18

Challenge level

A circular plate rolls inside a rectangular tray making five circuits and rotating about its centre seven times. Find the dimensions of the tray.
problem
Do unto Caesar

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

At the beginning of the night three poker players; Alan, Bernie and Craig had money in the ratios 7 : 6 : 5. At the end of the night the ratio was 6 : 5 : 4. One of them won $1 200. What were the assets of the players at the beginning of the evening?
problem
Sitting pretty

Age

14 to 16

Challenge level

A circle of radius r touches two sides of a right angled triangle, sides x and y, and has its centre on the hypotenuse. Can you prove the formula linking x, y and r?