An investigation involving adding and subtracting sets of consecutive numbers. Lots to find out, lots to explore.
Find a great variety of ways of asking questions which make 8.
Choose any three by three square of dates on a calendar page.
Circle any number on the top row, put a line through the other
numbers that are in the same row and column as your circled number.
Repeat this for a number of your choice from the second row. You
should now have just one number left on the bottom row, circle it.
Find the total for the three numbers circled. Compare this total
with the number in the centre of the square. What do you find? Can
you explain why this happens?
This is a very well-explained solution submitted by Julia (Wymondham High School):
Two other different students from Wymondham High School, David and Rachel, also submitted good solutions. In their answers, they included a very useful table of results which showed at a glance the state of the jugs after any particular pouring.
Much later two students from Flegg High, Luke and Ian, also submitted a successful solution to this problem. They had found their answer after "hours of trouble, and help from Mrs Fenn".