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Flight of the Flibbins

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

Picture of FlibbinsThe last ten Flibbins who live on the planet Filbert are in trouble. They are under threat from a cactus-like creature whose spines are fatal to the Flibbins and who are due to start their annual moult in a few days time!!

The Flibbins have found a neighbouring planet that is uninhabited and where they can survive if they can get there safely. However, they have some problems with organising their emigration.


Firstly, they only have one spacecraft that will carry at most one pilot and two passengers. Of course, the spacecraft can't fly (either to the new planet or back from it) without a pilot, which can be any of the Flibbins!

Secondly, the ten Flibbins each have a partner of the opposite colour. The blue Flibbins are all very protective of their red partners, so if the blue partner is not present (on either planet or the spacecraft), there should be no other blue Flibbins with their red partner (but other red Flibbins are fine). Red Flibbins, however, are not so protective of their blue partners.
 

What is the quickest way of getting the five pairs of Flibbins safely to the new planet?

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Adding All Nine

Make a set of numbers that use all the digits from 1 to 9, once and once only. Add them up. The result is divisible by 9. Add each of the digits in the new number. What is their sum? Now try some other possibilities for yourself!

Summing Consecutive Numbers

15 = 7 + 8 and 10 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4. Can you say which numbers can be expressed as the sum of two or more consecutive integers?

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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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