Symmetry

  • Square pizza
    problem

    Square pizza

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Can you show that you can share a square pizza equally between two people by cutting it four times using vertical, horizontal and diagonal cuts through any point inside the square?
  • Arclets
    problem

    Arclets

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Each of the following shapes is made from arcs of a circle of radius r. What is the perimeter of a shape with 3, 4, 5 and n "nodes".
  • Prime Magic
    problem

    Prime magic

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Place the numbers 1, 2, 3,..., 9 one on each square of a 3 by 3 grid so that all the rows and columns add up to a prime number. How many different solutions can you find?
  • Rhombicubocts
    problem

    Rhombicubocts

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Each of these solids is made up with 3 squares and a triangle around each vertex. Each has a total of 18 square faces and 8 faces that are equilateral triangles. How many faces, edges and vertices does each solid have?
  • 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?
  • Holly
    problem

    Holly

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    The ten arcs forming the edges of the "holly leaf" are all arcs of circles of radius 1 cm. Find the length of the perimeter of the holly leaf and the area of its surface.
  • Eight Dominoes
    problem

    Eight dominoes

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Using the 8 dominoes make a square where each of the columns and rows adds up to 8
  • A Problem of time
    problem

    A problem of time

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Consider a watch face which has identical hands and identical marks for the hours. It is opposite to a mirror. When is the time as read direct and in the mirror exactly the same between 6 and 7?
  • Witch of Agnesi
    problem

    Witch of Agnesi

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star

    Sketch the members of the family of graphs given by y = a^3/(x^2+a^2) for a=1, 2 and 3.

  • Maltese Cross
    problem

    Maltese cross

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Sketch the graph of $xy(x^2 - y^2) = x^2 + y^2$ consisting of four curves and a single point at the origin. Convert to polar form. Describe the symmetries of the graph.