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Garden Shed

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Secondary curriculum
  • Problem
  • Student Solutions

Garden Shed printable sheet
 

Suppose we have a garden shed with a roof made from five wooden beams laid out like this:


Each of the four sloping beams is the same length.

The roof of the shed is 300cm long, 240cm wide and 60cm high.                    

What is the total length of wood needed to make these five main beams for the roof?

Can you reduce the amount of wood needed by changing the lengths marked in red?



With thanks to Don Steward, whose ideas formed the basis of this problem.



 

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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