Tag: Algebra
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Do You Think You Can Study Maths At Oxford University?
The function f, defined for whole positive numbers, satisfies f(1) = 1 and also the following rules f(2n) = 2f(n) and f(2n + 1) = 4f(n) The question is, how many numbers n satisfy f(n) = 16? Once again, this is a good moment to pause the article and give the problem a go yourself.…
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A Classic Maths Puzzle: How Many Cats Are Needed?
If three cats catch three rats in three minutes, how many cats will catch 100 rats in 100 minutes? I will present to you the standard answer to this, which I am sure most of you have come across countless times. After that, I’d like to offer you an alternate perspective regarding this puzzle. Once…
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Are You Smart Enough To Get Into Cambridge University?
This maths challenge comes from the University of Cambridge. It’s a test for students looking to study computer science and maths-related subjects at the prestigious institution. Specifically, we are tasked with finding the minimum value of a function. There are 6 choices but only 1 is the correct answer. Once again, this is a good…
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Try This Sum Of Sums Problem!
The challenge for you is to solve for x. Here’s a hint: think of triangular numbers! Once again, this is a good moment to pause the article and give the problem a go yourself. When you’re ready, keep reading for the solution. And if you come up with your own approach, feel free to share…
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Are You Smart Enough To Find A + H?
Come not between the dragon and his wrath. Apparently this is a quote from Shakespeare, and I happened to have seen this on a dragon notebook I bought from Waterstones. I think this puzzle really is a system of simultaneous equations in disguise. So buckle up my friends, and give this a go! When you…
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An Algebra Puzzle
There are many ways one can solve this. It all boils down to what sort of techniques you are most comfortable with. Now grab a pen and paper, and give this a go, When you are ready, keep reading for the solution. Solution I am going to present this method of turning the insides of…
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Happy Valentine’s Day: Can You Maximize The Love On This Day?
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone, I hope you are having a euphoric moment, but if not, you can try this algebra puzzle about maximizing the expression LUV + LU + UV + LV given L + U + V = 12. What’s your favorite song about romance? Mine is A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. I…
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Can You Find All Possible Solutions In Both Cases?
Apparently a version of this puzzle appeared in ‘Nouvelles Annales de Mathématiques’. So we want to arrange the nine digits so that the first two numbers will multiply together to make the third. In our examples above, we have 12 × 483 = 5,796 and 4 × 1,738 = 6,952. Now can you find all…
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Can You Find The Number Below 400? This question took me less than a minute!
This math puzzle is about a pyramid made up of consecutive integers starting from 1. So on the first row, we have 1. On the second row, we have 2, 3 and 4. There are two more numbers in every subsequent row. And our goal is to find the number directly below the number 400.…