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Let's Investigate Triangles

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star
Primary curriculum
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources

Vincent and Tara are making triangles with strips from the class construction set.

They have strips of three different lengths: 4 holes, 7 holes and 11 holes.

There are plenty of strips of each length. 

Vincent makes a triangle with two strips that are length 7 and one strip that is length 4, like this: 

Tara makes a triangle with three strips that are each length 11, like this:

How many different triangles can you make using strips that are length 4, length 7 and/or length 11?
You can use the interactivity below to try out your ideas if you do not have a construction set.

Can you find three strips which cannot be made into a triangle when you use them together?
Why is it impossible to make a triangle from those three strips?

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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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