Explaining, convincing and proving

  • Proximity
    problem

    Proximity

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    We are given a regular icosahedron having three red vertices. Show that it has a vertex that has at least two red neighbours.

  • Gift of Gems
    problem

    Gift of Gems

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Four jewellers share their stock. Can you work out the relative values of their gems?

  • Long Short
    problem

    Long Short

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    What can you say about the lengths of the sides of a quadrilateral whose vertices are on a unit circle?

  • Converse
    problem

    Converse

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Clearly if a, b and c are the lengths of the sides of an equilateral triangle then a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = ab + bc + ca. Is the converse true?

  • Janine's Conjecture
    problem

    Janine's Conjecture

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Janine noticed, while studying some cube numbers, that if you take three consecutive whole numbers and multiply them together and then add the middle number of the three, you get the middle number. Does this always work? Can you prove or disprove this conjecture?

  • A pointed metal arrowhead on the end of an arrow.
    problem

    Arrowhead

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    The points P, Q, R and S are the midpoints of the edges of a non-convex quadrilateral.What do you notice about the quadrilateral PQRS and its area?

  • Round and Round
    problem

    Round and Round

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Prove that the shaded area of the semicircle is equal to the area of the inner circle.

  • Pareq Exists
    problem

    Pareq Exists

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Prove that, given any three parallel lines, an equilateral triangle always exists with one vertex on each of the three lines.

  • Never Prime
    problem

    Never Prime

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    If a two digit number has its digits reversed and the smaller of the two numbers is subtracted from the larger, prove the difference can never be prime.

  • Three tennis balls on a clay surface.
    problem

    Three Balls

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Do points P and Q lie inside, on, or outside this circle?