Reasoning, convincing and proving

There are 458 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Reasoning, convincing and proving
Water Pistols
problem

Water Pistols

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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With n people anywhere in a field each shoots a water pistol at the nearest person. In general who gets wet? What difference does it make if n is odd or even?
The Bridges of Konigsberg
problem

The Bridges of Konigsberg

Age
11 to 18
Challenge level
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Investigate how networks can be used to solve a problem for the 18th Century inhabitants of Konigsberg.
Tourism
problem

Tourism

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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If you can copy a network without lifting your pen off the paper and without drawing any line twice, then it is traversable. Decide which of these diagrams are traversable.
Painted Cube
problem

Painted Cube

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Imagine a large cube made from small red cubes being dropped into a pot of yellow paint. How many of the small cubes will have yellow paint on their faces?
Tilted Squares
problem

Tilted Squares

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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It's easy to work out the areas of most squares that we meet, but what if they were tilted?
Seven Squares - Group-worthy Task
problem

Seven Squares - Group-worthy Task

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Choose a couple of the sequences. Try to picture how to make the next, and the next, and the next... Can you describe your reasoning?
Your number is...
problem

Your number is...

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
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Think of a number and follow the machine's instructions... I know what your number is! Can you explain how I know?
More Number Pyramids
problem

More Number Pyramids

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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When number pyramids have a sequence on the bottom layer, some interesting patterns emerge...
Generally Geometric
problem

Generally Geometric

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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Generalise the sum of a GP by using derivatives to make the coefficients into powers of the natural numbers.
Circle Box
problem

Circle Box

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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It is obvious that we can fit four circles of diameter 1 unit in a square of side 2 without overlapping. What is the smallest square into which we can fit 3 circles of diameter 1 unit?