Reasoning, convincing and proving

There are 458 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Reasoning, convincing and proving
Folding Squares
problem

Folding Squares

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
The diagonal of a square intersects the line joining one of the unused corners to the midpoint of the opposite side. What do you notice about the line segments produced?
Angle Trisection
problem

Angle Trisection

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
It is impossible to trisect an angle using only ruler and compasses but it can be done using a carpenter's square.
Three Balls
problem

Three Balls

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
A circle has centre O and angle POR = angle QOR. Construct tangents at P and Q meeting at T. Draw a circle with diameter OT. Do P and Q lie inside, or on, or outside this circle?
Middle Man
problem

Middle Man

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Mark a point P inside a closed curve. Is it always possible to find two points that lie on the curve, such that P is the mid point of the line joining these two points?
Cyclic Quad Jigsaw
problem

Cyclic Quad Jigsaw

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
A picture is made by joining five small quadrilaterals together to make a large quadrilateral. Is it possible to draw a similar picture if all the small quadrilaterals are cyclic?
Zig Zag
problem

Zig Zag

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
Four identical right angled triangles are drawn on the sides of a square. Two face out, two face in. Why do the four vertices marked with dots lie on one line?
Ratty
problem

Ratty

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
If you know the sizes of the angles marked with coloured dots in this diagram which angles can you find by calculation?
Never Prime
problem

Never Prime

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
If a two digit number has its digits reversed and the smaller of the two numbers is subtracted from the larger, prove the difference can never be prime.
Encircling
problem

Encircling

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
filled star filled star filled star
An equilateral triangle is sitting on top of a square. What is the radius of the circle that circumscribes this shape?
How many dice?
problem

How many dice?

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
A standard die has the numbers 1, 2 and 3 are opposite 6, 5 and 4 respectively so that opposite faces add to 7? If you make standard dice by writing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 on blank cubes you will find there are 2 and only 2 different standard dice. Can you prove this ?