Visualising and representing

  • Squares in a Square
    problem

    Squares in a Square

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    In the diagram, the small squares are all the same size. What fraction of the large square is shaded?
  • Soma Surface
    problem

    Soma Surface

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    What is the surface area of the solid shown?
  • Construct-o-Straws
    problem

    Construct-O-Straws

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Make a cube out of straws and have a go at this practical challenge.
  • Chess
    problem

    Chess

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    What would be the smallest number of moves needed to move a Knight from a chess set from one corner to the opposite corner of a 99 by 99 square board?
  • Tic Tac Toe
    problem

    Tic Tac Toe

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    In the game of Noughts and Crosses there are 8 distinct winning lines. How many distinct winning lines are there in a game played on a 3 by 3 by 3 board, with 27 cells?
  • Crossing the Atlantic
    problem

    Crossing the Atlantic

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Every day at noon a boat leaves Le Havre for New York while another boat leaves New York for Le Havre. The ocean crossing takes seven days. How many boats will each boat cross during their journey?
  • Friday 13th
    problem

    Friday 13th

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Can you explain why every year must contain at least one Friday the thirteenth?
  • Escalator
    problem

    Escalator

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    At Holborn underground station there is a very long escalator. Two people are in a hurry and so climb the escalator as it is moving upwards, thus adding their speed to that of the moving steps. ... How many steps are there on the escalator?
  • Paving Paths
    problem

    Paving Paths

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    How many different ways can I lay 10 paving slabs, each 2 foot by 1 foot, to make a path 2 foot wide and 10 foot long from my back door into my garden, without cutting any of the paving slabs?
  • Tetra Square
    problem

    Tetra Square

    Age
    14 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    ABCD is a regular tetrahedron and the points P, Q, R and S are the midpoints of the edges AB, BD, CD and CA. Prove that PQRS is a square.