Regular polygons and circles

  • Triangular Hexagons
    problem

    Triangular hexagons

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Investigate these hexagons drawn from different sized equilateral triangles.
  • Like a Circle in a Spiral
    problem

    Like a circle in a spiral

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A cheap and simple toy with lots of mathematics. Can you interpret the images that are produced? Can you predict the pattern that will be produced using different wheels?
  • Square Bisection
    problem

    Square bisection

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Weekly Problem 8 - 2008
    In how many ways can a square be cut in half using a single straight line cut?
  • Lighting up time
    problem

    Lighting up time

    Age
    7 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A very mathematical light - what can you see?
  • Contact Circles
    problem

    Contact circles

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    These four touching circles have another circle hiding amongst them...
  • Some(?) of the Parts
    problem

    Some(?) of the parts

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    A circle touches the lines OA, OB and AB where OA and OB are perpendicular. Show that the diameter of the circle is equal to the perimeter of the triangle
  • Kissing
    problem

    Kissing

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Two perpendicular lines are tangential to two identical circles that touch. What is the largest circle that can be placed in between the two lines and the two circles and how would you construct it?
  • Just touching
    problem

    Just touching

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Three semi-circles have a common diameter, each touches the other two and two lie inside the biggest one. What is the radius of the circle that touches all three semi-circles?
  • Quadarc
    problem

    Quadarc

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Given a square ABCD of sides 10 cm, and using the corners as centres, construct four quadrants with radius 10 cm each inside the square. The four arcs intersect at P, Q, R and S. Find the area enclosed by PQRS.
  • Get Cross
    problem

    Get cross

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    A white cross is placed symmetrically in a red disc with the central square of side length sqrt 2 and the arms of the cross of length 1 unit. What is the area of the disc still showing?