Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Always Perfect
    problem

    Always perfect

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Show that if you add 1 to the product of four consecutive numbers the answer is ALWAYS a perfect square.

  • Impossible sums
    problem

    Impossible sums

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Which numbers cannot be written as the sum of two or more consecutive numbers?

  • Difference of odd squares
    problem

    Difference of odd squares

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    $40$ can be written as $7^2 - 3^2.$ Which other numbers can be written as the difference of squares of odd numbers?

  • The Converse of Pythagoras
    problem

    The converse of Pythagoras

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Can you prove that triangles are right-angled when $a^2+b^2=c^2$?

  • Leonardo's Problem
    problem

    Leonardo's problem

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    A, B & C own a half, a third and a sixth of a coin collection. Each grab some coins, return some, then share equally what they had put back, finishing with their own share. How rich are they?
  • Shopping basket of various food items.
    problem

    A long time at the till

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Try to solve this very difficult problem and then study our two suggested solutions. How would you use your knowledge to try to solve variants on the original problem?

  • Napoleon's Hat
    problem

    Napoleon's hat

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Three equilateral triangles ABC, AYX and XZB are drawn with the point X a moveable point on AB. The points P, Q and R are the centres of the three triangles. What can you say about triangle PQR?

  • Big, Bigger, Biggest
    problem

    Big, bigger, biggest

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Which is the biggest and which the smallest of $2000^{2002}, 2001^{2001} \text{and } 2002^{2000}$?

  • Prime AP
    problem

    Prime AP

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    What can you say about the common difference of an AP where every term is prime?

  • Flexi Quads
    problem

    Flexi quads

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    A quadrilateral changes shape with the edge lengths constant. Show the scalar product of the diagonals is constant. If the diagonals are perpendicular in one position are they always perpendicular?