[Maths-Education] February edition of NRICH

[Jennifer Piggott]

Greetings,

Just a reminder that the February edition of the NRICH website
http://nrich.maths.org is up.

This month the theme is Experiment, Conjecture and Prove.

Many of the problems, at all Stages, explore what can and cannot be done 
with triangles, encouraging younger pupils to develop language which 
discriminates between forms, and expresses characteristics like 
symmetry, while pushing older students to grapple with the irrational.

Even thinking beyond two dimensions as a triangular net wraps up some 
three-dimensional space in Triangular Faces 
http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5943

But it's not all shapes - don't miss 9 Weights,
http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5827
a challenge to use information efficiently,
and then Conway's Chequerboard Army
http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5882
for a fascinating test of what a system or process will allow.

If you think that mathematical proof is clear-cut and universal you 
should dip into this article Proof: A Brief Historical Survey
http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5996
and then see what you think.

There's also the Factors & Multiples Game ,
http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5468
a great interactive challenge that will stretch your reasoning and 
strategy-finding ability - be warned, it's easy to get hooked.

Algebra meets sudoku in Equation Sudoku ,
http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=5970
this month's puzzle from Henry Kwok's endless variety of themed Sudoku 
challenges.


Remember you can:

Go to Stage 1 & 2 http://nrich.maths.org/public/monthindex.php?mm=1 if 
you are interested in mathematics at a level usually encountered at
primary school.
Go to Stage 2 & 3 http://nrich.maths.org/public/monthindex.php?mm=2 if 
you are interested in mathematics at a level usually encountered at
lower secondary school.
Go to Stage 3 & 4 http://nrich.maths.org/public/monthindex.php?mm=3 if 
you are interested in mathematics at a level usually encountered at
upper secondary school.
Go to Stage 4 & 5 http://nrich.maths.org/public/monthindex.php?mm=4 if 
you are interested in mathematics usually encountered at post-16 level.

Alternatively, click on the links in the left-hand menu.

Solutions to the February problems will appear in March.

from,
The NRICH Team

-- 
Dr Jennifer Piggott
NRICH Project Director (nrich.maths.org)
University of Cambridge
Centre for Mathematical Sciences
Wilberforce Road
Cambridge
CB3 OWA

The NRICH website publishes a monthly issue of free mathematical enrichment material - problems, articles, games and investigations - and offers an archive of accessible and rich mathematical resources.
The NRICH material encourages creative, confident approaches to
mathematical thinking and problem solving, and can be used by learners of all ages.
The sense of an online mathematical community is fostered by the publication of solutions sent to the site and by the online discussion and mentoring service offered by AskNRICH.