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Cables can be made stronger by compacting them together in a hexagonal formation.
Here is a 'size 5' cable made up of 61 strands:
How many strands are needed for a size 10 cable?
How many for a size n cable?
Can you justify your answer?
Once you've had a go at the problem, click below to see the diagrams some 15 year old students produced when they worked on it.
Do these diagrams give you any ideas for how you could work out the number of strands needed?
The work that these students did using their diagrams is given on the Getting Started page, if you would like a bigger hint.
Which of the four approaches makes the most sense to you?
What do you like about your favourite approach?
Can you think of any other approaches?