We think this 3x3 version of the game is often harder than the 5x5 version. Do you agree? If so, why do you think that might be?
On a "move" a stone is removed from two of the circles and placed in the third circle. Here are five of the ways that 27 stones could be distributed.
Take ten sticks in heaps any way you like. Make a new heap using one from each of the heaps. By repeating that process could the arrangement 7 - 1 - 1 - 1 ever turn up, except by starting with it?
Place four pebbles on the sand in the form of a square. Keep adding as few pebbles as necessary to double the area. How many extra pebbles are added each time?
There are three tables in a room with blocks of chocolate on each. Where would be the best place for each child in the class to sit if they came in one at a time?
An investigation involving adding and subtracting sets of consecutive numbers. Lots to find out, lots to explore.
How many different sets of numbers with at least four members can you find in the numbers in this box?
What shapes should Elly cut out to make a witch's hat? How can she make a taller hat?
Formulate and investigate a simple mathematical model for the design of a table mat.
Many natural systems appear to be in equilibrium until suddenly a critical point is reached, setting up a mudslide or an avalanche or an earthquake. In this project, students will use a simple. . . .
It starts quite simple but great opportunities for number discoveries and patterns!
Numbers arranged in a square but some exceptional spatial awareness probably needed.
A challenging activity focusing on finding all possible ways of stacking rods.
Investigate constructible images which contain rational areas.
This tricky challenge asks you to find ways of going across rectangles, going through exactly ten squares.
A follow-up activity to Tiles in the Garden.
This challenging activity involves finding different ways to distribute fifteen items among four sets, when the sets must include three, four, five and six items.
This challenge extends the Plants investigation so now four or more children are involved.
Can you find some Pythagorean Triples where the two smaller numbers differ by 1?
How will you decide which way of flipping over and/or turning the grid will give you the highest total?
Could nanotechnology be used to see if an artery is blocked? Or is this just science fiction?
Get some practice using big and small numbers in chemistry.
An introduction to bond angle geometry.
Some of our more advanced investigations
In which Olympic event does a human travel fastest? Decide which events to include in your Alternative Record Book.
Where should runners start the 200m race so that they have all run the same distance by the finish?
What's the chance of a pair of lists of numbers having sample correlation exactly equal to zero?
Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calculate various quantities in physical contexts.
Work with numbers big and small to estimate and calculate various quantities in biological contexts.
Explore one of these five pictures.
Have a go at this 3D extension to the Pebbles problem.
Explore the properties of combinations of trig functions in this open investigation.
This article for teachers suggests ideas for activities built around 10 and 2010.
Use trigonometry to determine whether solar eclipses on earth can be perfect.
An introduction to a useful tool to check the validity of an equation.
Is it really greener to go on the bus, or to buy local?
Work out the numerical values for these physical quantities.
How much energy has gone into warming the planet?
When is a knot invertible ?
Two perpendicular lines lie across each other and the end points are joined to form a quadrilateral. Eight ratios are defined, three are given but five need to be found.
Two polygons fit together so that the exterior angle at each end of their shared side is 81 degrees. If both shapes now have to be regular could the angle still be 81 degrees?
Where we follow twizzles to places that no number has been before.
In this article for teachers, Bernard gives an example of taking an initial activity and getting questions going that lead to other explorations.
In this investigation, we look at Pascal's Triangle in a slightly different way - rotated and with the top line of ones taken off.
Take any pair of numbers, say 9 and 14. Take the larger number, fourteen, and count up in 14s. Then divide each of those values by the 9, and look at the remainders.
How much peel does an apple have?
All types of mathematical problems serve a useful purpose in mathematics teaching, but different types of problem will achieve different learning objectives. In generalmore open-ended problems have. . . .
In a snooker game the brown ball was on the lip of the pocket but it could not be hit directly as the black ball was in the way. How could it be potted by playing the white ball off a cushion?
A description of some experiments in which you can make discoveries about triangles.
This article (the first of two) contains ideas for investigations. Space-time, the curvature of space and topology are introduced with some fascinating problems to explore.