Welcome to challenge problem number one.
This is a great problem that requires a little bit of out of the box thinking, but very accessible mathematics. This is a great way to build problem solving skills and practice connecting concepts in Algebra and Geometry.
The skills developed in practicing these kinds of problems help students with confidence and speed up their thinking and problem solving skills. Those all come in handy when it counts most, on ACT or SAT test, or IGCSE or IB tests, as well as on other important tests.
Click the icon to the left to download the Teacher Tool Box for this c
hallenge problem. Included is a PowerPoint, handout (worksheet), and a Google Forms quiz.
There are a couple of great ways to use such a problem in your classroom. If you’d like to do a weekly challenge problem (for students that are interested), simply post the problem in the classroom and then in post the Google Forms Quiz in Google Classroom. Give students a week to work on it, and then see what happens. This is great because you can do it at any time. Having a weekly challenge problem is a great way to develop curiosity and get students doing math for the fun of it … and before you go thinking that is just crazy talk, remember, people love puzzles and games. Let’s put some fun back in the classroom.
Another way to use this problem is with the PowerPoint. Help students navigate the question through discussion and exploration.
Either way you do it, this problem will be sure to challenge and excite student curiosity.
