Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Adding odd numbers (part 2)
    problem

    Adding odd numbers (part 2)

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Can you use Proof by Induction to establish what will happen when you add more and more odd numbers?

  • Tetra Slice
    problem

    Tetra slice

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Can you prove that a quadrilateral drawn inside a tetrahedron is a parallelogram?

  • Areas and Ratios
    problem

    Areas and ratios

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Do you have enough information to work out the area of the shaded quadrilateral?

  • Orthogonal Circle
    problem

    Orthogonal circle

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Given any three non intersecting circles in the plane find another circle or straight line which cuts all three circles orthogonally.

  • Eyes Down
    problem

    Eyes down

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    The symbol [ ] means 'the integer part of'. Can the numbers [2x]; 2[x]; [x + 1/2] + [x - 1/2] ever be equal? Can they ever take three different values?
  • Tetra Perp
    problem

    Tetra perp

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Show that the edges $AD$ and $BC$ of a tetrahedron $ABCD$ are mutually perpendicular if and only if $AB^2 +CD^2 = AC^2+BD^2$. This problem uses the scalar product of two vectors.

  • Polite Numbers
    problem

    Polite numbers

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    A polite number can be written as the sum of two or more consecutive positive integers, for example 8+9+10=27 is a polite number. Can you find some more polite, and impolite, numbers?
  • Cubestick
    problem

    Cubestick

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Stick some cubes together to make a cuboid. Find two of the angles by as many different methods as you can devise.

  • Impossible square?
    problem

    Impossible square?

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Can you make a square from these triangles?
  • Impossible triangles?
    problem

    Impossible triangles?

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Which of these triangular jigsaws are impossible to finish?