Reasoning, convincing and proving

There are 514 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Reasoning, convincing and proving
Fibonacci Factors
problem

Fibonacci factors

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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For which values of n is the Fibonacci number fn even? Which Fibonnaci numbers are divisible by 3?
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?
Triangles within Squares
problem

Triangles within squares

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Can you find a rule which relates triangular numbers to square numbers?
Kept Apart
problem

Kept apart

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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The squares of this grid contain one of the letters P, Q, R and S. Can you complete this square so that touching squares do not contain the same letter? How many possibilities are there?
Russian Cubes
problem

Russian cubes

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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I want some cubes painted with three blue faces and three red faces. How many different cubes can be painted like that?
Code to Zero
problem

Code to zero

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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Find all 3 digit numbers such that by adding the first digit, the square of the second and the cube of the third you get the original number, for example 1 + 3^2 + 5^3 = 135.
Three Ways
problem

Three ways

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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If x + y = -1 find the largest value of xy by coordinate geometry, by calculus and by algebra.
Loopy
problem

Loopy

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Investigate sequences given by $a_n = \frac{1+a_{n-1}}{a_{n-2}}$ for different choices of the first two terms. Make a conjecture about the behaviour of these sequences. Can you prove your conjecture?
Encircling
problem

Encircling

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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An equilateral triangle is sitting on top of a square. What is the radius of the circle that circumscribes this shape?
Chocolate Maths
problem

Chocolate maths

Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
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Pick the number of times a week that you eat chocolate. This number must be more than one but less than ten. Multiply this number by 2. Add 5 (for Sunday). Multiply by 50... Can you explain why it works?