| For more advanced mathematical problems please see the Advanced Scientific Mathematics section. For advanced activities more directly based around specific mathematical applications, please see bioNRICH , chemNRICH , physNRICH or engNRICH |
| Area of maths |
Style |
Teacher Notes |
Question |
Description |
| Numbers |
 |
YES |
Big and Small Numbers in Biology |
10 individual questions using numbers big and small to calculate or estimate various quantities in simple biological contexts. |
|
YES |
Big and Small Numbers in Physics |
10 individual questions using numbers big and small to calculate or estimate various quantities in simple contexts relevant to physics. |
 |
- |
Constantly Changing |
Many physical constants are only known to a certain accuracy. Explore the numerical error bounds in the mass of water and its constituents. |
|
YES |
Peaches Today, Peaches Tomorrow |
A little monkey had 60 peaches. On the first day he kept 3/4 of his peaches, gave the rest away and then ate one. On the second day he kept 7/11 .... How many did he have left at the end? |
| See also, in particular, the Dilution and Proportional Reasoning problems on the chemNRICH pages |
| Algebra, equations and graphs |
|
YES |
Temperature |
Is there a temperature at which Celsius and Fahrenheit readings are the same on a thermometer? |
 |
YES |
What's that graph? |
Which graphs, equations and physical processes go together? |
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| Geometry and symmetry |
|
YES |
How Far Does it Move? |
Experiment with the interactivity of "rolling" regular polygons, and explore how the different positions of the red dot affects the distance it travels at each stage. |
 |
YES |
Semi-regular tessellations |
Explore ways to symmetrically tile the plane with this beautiful interactivity. |
|
YES |
Efficient Packing |
How will you go about calculation to pack small circles into a large square? |
|
- |
Ball Bearings |
If a is the radius of the axle, b the radius of each ball-bearing, and c the radius of the hub, why does the number of ball bearings n determine the ratio c/a? Find a formula for c/a in terms of n. |
| Curve fitting and sketching |
|
YES |
Fill me up |
Imagine these flasks filling with water. How would the height of water vary over time? |
|
YES |
Real-life Equations |
Relate these commonly used equations to points on a series of graphs. Which are possible and which are not? |
|
YES |
Equation Matcher |
A series of graphs are given containing just 2 or 3 points. Which equations do the points rule out? |
|
YES |
Maths Filler |
Can you work out how to make height-time charts as these unusually shaped vessels are filled up? |
|
YES |
Curve Match |
Can you match these curves to the graphs? |
 |
YES |
Fill me up too |
Analyse the volume of some commonly used scientific vessels. |
| Approximations and estimations |
|
YES |
Place your orders |
Can you sort these quantities into order of size? |
|
YES |
Approximately Certain |
Estimate these curious quantities sufficiently accurately that you can rank them in order of size. |
|
- |
Global Warming |
How much energy has gone into warming up the planet? |
 |
YES |
Carbon Footprints |
Is it really greener to go on the bus, or to buy locally produced food? |
| Powers and roots |
|
YES |
A Question of Scale |
This interactive page allows you to test your knowledge and skill using powers of 10 to place physical quantities in order of size. |
|
YES |
Power Countdown |
Try to hit the targets using the operations of powers and roots. |
| Data handling |
|
YES |
Data Matching |
Use your skill and judgement to match the sets of random data |
|
YES |
Odd One Out |
Develop your eye for patterns in data by trying to deduce the likely location of the odd ones out in six sets of random numbers |
|
YES |
Back Fitter |
10 graphs are of noisy experimental data are given. Can you use the spreadsheet provided to find algebraic graphs which match them closely? |
|
YES |
Who's the best? |
Which countries have the most naturally athletic populations? |
|
YES |
David and Goliath |
It is suggested that heavier competitors are at an advantage in the shot put. Do the data support that claim? |
|
YES |
Guessing the graph |
Analyses these pieces of scientifc data and try to deduce the equation of the curve underlying the process. |
| Trigonometry |
|
- |
Far Horizon |
An observer is on top of a lighthouse. How far from the foot of the lighthouse is the horizon that the observer can see? |
|
YES |
Perfect Eclipse |
Find out why perfect eclipses are, in fact, perfect. |
| Units |
 |
YES |
Uniform Units |
Can you choose your units so that a cube has the same numerical value for it volume, surface area and total edge length? |
|
- |
Bigger or Smaller? |
Develop your intuition for changing units by asking the simple question: will a unit change give me a larger or smaller number? |
|
YES |
Choose Your Units |
Which would be the most sensible units in which to measure these objects? |
| Algorithms and decision making |
 |
- |
How would you score it? |
How would you devise a scoring system to score a 'guess the weight' competition? |
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