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Keep Your Distance Poster

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

The possible arrangements are:

 
(plus the example given on the poster)

Are you sure that you have them all?

Start with two points some distance apart (red distance).

Then there are three options for the third point:

  1.   the third point is a different distance from the first two points
  2. the third point is the green distance from one of the first two points, but the first distance (red) from the other. But actually, this is the same as option 1, if we just relabel the bottom right point as the third point!
  3. the third point is the red distance from the first two points.

If we use arrangement number 1, the fourth point could be:
a) the green distance from the third point and the red distance from the other two
b) the red distance from all of the 3 existing points
c) the red distance from the third point but the green distance from the other two
d) the green distance from all of the 3 existing points
e) different distances from the first two points and the red distance from the third
f) different distances from the first two points and the green distance from the third

a)Equilateral triangle

b)Isosceles triangle

c) Square

d) Rhombus

e) Trapezium

f)Kite

If we start with option 3 instead, then:
a) the fourth point is the same distance from all 3 of the points - equilateral triangle
b) the fourth point is the red distance from one of them and the green distance from the other two- isosceles triangle
c) the fourth point is the red distance from two of them and the green distance from the other one - rhombus

So those are all of the possible shapes.

Related Collections

  • More Posters
  • Secondary Posters

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Arithmagons Poster

Arithmagons Poster

Squares in Rectangles Poster

Squares In Rectangles Poster

Isosceles Triangles Poster

Isosceles Triangles Poster - February 2005

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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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