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Tic Tac Toe

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
  • Problem
  • Student Solutions
The ideas in this problem have been expanded and made into another, more detailed investigation. See Marbles in a Box.
In the game of Tic Tac Toe (i.e. noughts and crosses) there are 8 distinct winning lines.

Investigate how many distinct winning lines there are in a game played on a 3 by 3 by 3 board, with 27 cells.

A winning line connects 3 cells.



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Boxed In

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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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