Mathematical induction

  • Converging Product
    problem
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    Converging Product

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    In the limit you get the sum of an infinite geometric series. What about an infinite product (1+x)(1+x^2)(1+x^4)... ?
  • Tens
    problem
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    Tens

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    When is $7^n + 3^n$ a multiple of 10? Can you prove the result by two different methods?
  • Elevens
    problem

    Elevens

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Add powers of 3 and powers of 7 and get multiples of 11.
  • Growing
    problem

    Growing

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Which is larger: (a) 1.000001^{1000000} or 2? (b) 100^{300} or 300! (i.e.factorial 300)
  • Golden Powers
    problem

    Golden Powers

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    You add 1 to the golden ratio to get its square. How do you find higher powers?
  • Counting Binary Ops
    problem

    Counting Binary Ops

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    How many ways can the terms in an ordered list be combined by repeating a single binary operation. Show that for 4 terms there are 5 cases and find the number of cases for 5 terms and 6 terms.
  • Fibonacci Fashion
    problem

    Fibonacci Fashion

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    What have Fibonacci numbers to do with solutions of the quadratic equation x^2 - x - 1 = 0 ?
  • Overarch 2
    problem

    Overarch 2

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Bricks are 20cm long and 10cm high. How high could an arch be built without mortar on a flat horizontal surface, to overhang by 1 metre? How big an overhang is it possible to make like this?
  • Water Pistols
    problem

    Water Pistols

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    With n people anywhere in a field each shoots a water pistol at the nearest person. In general who gets wet? What difference does it make if n is odd or even?
  • Golden Fractions
    problem

    Golden Fractions

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Find the link between a sequence of continued fractions and the ratio of succesive Fibonacci numbers.