
Reasoning, convincing and proving
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problem
DOTS division
Take any pair of two digit numbers x=ab and y=cd where, without loss of generality, ab > cd . Form two 4 digit numbers r=abcd and s=cdab and calculate: {r^2 - s^2} /{x^2 - y^2}.
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problem
There's a limit
Explore the continued fraction: 2+3/(2+3/(2+3/2+...)) What do you notice when successive terms are taken? What happens to the terms if the fraction goes on indefinitely? -
problem
Diophantine n-tuples
Can you explain why a sequence of operations always gives you perfect squares? -
problem
Pythagorean golden means
Show that the arithmetic mean, geometric mean and harmonic mean of a and b can be the lengths of the sides of a right-angles triangle if and only if a = bx^3, where x is the Golden Ratio. -
problem
Euler's squares
Euler found four whole numbers such that the sum of any two of the numbers is a perfect square... -
problem
Square mean
Is the mean of the squares of two numbers greater than, or less than, the square of their means? -
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problem
Without calculus
Given that u>0 and v>0 find the smallest possible value of 1/u + 1/v given that u + v = 5 by different methods. -
problem
Cosines rule
Three points A, B and C lie in this order on a line, and P is any point in the plane. Use the Cosine Rule to prove the following statement.