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Seeing Parallelograms

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star
Primary curriculum
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources

This game is part of a set of three. We recommend you play this version after having a go at Seeing Squares and before having a go at Seeing Rhombuses.

Seeing Parallelograms printable sheet
Printable dotted grid
 

This game can be played against a friend or against the computer.

Players take it in turns to click on a dot on the grid - the first player will place blue triangles and the second player will place pink squares.

The winner is the first to have chosen four dots that can be joined to form a parallelogram.

Parallelograms can be anywhere and any size.

Clicking on the purple settings cog allows you to select the size of the grid, who the players are, and who goes first.

Once you've played a few times against a friend, you might like to discuss your strategies, and then test them by playing against the computer.

Can you find a winning strategy?

If you are not using the interactive game, you may like to print off some dotty paper.

You may be interested in the other problems in our Strategy Games Feature.

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Investigate the different shaped bracelets you could make from 18 different spherical beads. How do they compare if you use 24 beads?

Cut and Make

Cut a square of paper into three pieces as shown. Now,can you use the 3 pieces to make a large triangle, a parallelogram and the square again?

Is a Square a Rectangle?

How many rectangles can you find in this shape? Which ones are differently sized and which are 'similar'?

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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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