Skip over navigation
Cambridge University Faculty of Mathematics NRich logo
menu search
  • Teachers expand_more
    • Early years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
    • Events
    • Professional development
  • Students expand_more
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Parents expand_more
    • Early Years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Problem-Solving Schools
  • About NRICH expand_more
    • About us
    • Impact stories
    • Support us
    • Our funders
    • Contact us
  • search

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

  • The Number System and Place Value
  • Calculations and Numerical Methods
  • Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
  • Properties of Numbers
  • Patterns, Sequences and Structure
  • Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
  • Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

  • Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
  • 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
  • Measuring and calculating with units
  • Transformations and constructions
  • Pythagoras and Trigonometry
  • Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

  • Handling, Processing and Representing Data
  • Probability

Working mathematically

  • Thinking mathematically
  • Developing positive attitudes
  • Cross-curricular contexts

Advanced mathematics

  • Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Advanced Probability and Statistics
  • Mechanics
  • Calculus

For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage
NRICH topics: Properties of numbers Triangle numbers

Resources tagged with: Triangle numbers

Content type:
Age range:
Challenge level:

There are 29 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Triangle numbers, you may find related items under Properties of numbers.

Broad Topics > Properties of numbers > Triangle numbers

Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Light the Lights Again

Each light in this interactivity turns on according to a rule. What happens when you enter different numbers? Can you find the smallest number that lights up all four lights?

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Slick Summing

Watch the video to see how Charlie works out the sum. Can you adapt his method?

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Handshakes

Can you find an efficient method to work out how many handshakes there would be if hundreds of people met?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Mystic Rose

Use the animation to help you work out how many lines are needed to draw mystic roses of different sizes.

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Triangle Numbers

Take a look at the multiplication square. The first eleven triangle numbers have been identified. Can you see a pattern? Does the pattern continue?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Route to Infinity

Can you describe this route to infinity? Where will the arrows take you next?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Factors and Multiples Puzzle

Using your knowledge of the properties of numbers, can you fill all the squares on the board?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Take Ten Sticks

Take ten sticks in heaps any way you like. Make a new heap using one from each of the heaps. By repeating that process could the arrangement 7 - 1 - 1 - 1 ever turn up, except by starting with it?

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Picturing Triangular Numbers

Triangular numbers can be represented by a triangular array of squares. What do you notice about the sum of identical triangle numbers?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Iff

Take a triangular number, multiply it by 8 and add 1. What is special about your answer? Can you prove it?

Age 14 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

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?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Swimming Pool Tiles

This activity creates an opportunity to explore all kinds of number-related patterns.

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Satisfying Statements

Can you find any two-digit numbers that satisfy all of these statements?

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Speedy Summations

Watch the video to see how to add together an arithmetic sequence of numbers efficiently.

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Triangles Within Pentagons

Show that all pentagonal numbers are one third of a triangular number.

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Triangles Within Squares

Can you find a rule which relates triangular numbers to square numbers?

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Triangles Within Triangles

Can you find a rule which connects consecutive triangular numbers?

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star
Article Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Clever Carl

What would you do if your teacher asked you add all the numbers from 1 to 100? Find out how Carl Gauss responded when he was asked to do just that.

Age 7 to 14
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

A Square Deal

Complete the magic square using the numbers 1 to 25 once each. Each row, column and diagonal adds up to 65.

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Graphing Number Patterns

Does a graph of the triangular numbers cross a graph of the six times table? If so, where? Will a graph of the square numbers cross the times table too?

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Triangular Triples

Show that 8778, 10296 and 13530 are three triangular numbers and that they form a Pythagorean triple.

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Hot Pursuit

I added together the first 'n' positive integers and found that my answer was a 3 digit number in which all the digits were the same...

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Sam Again

Here is a collection of puzzles about Sam's shop sent in by club members. Perhaps you can make up more puzzles, find formulas or find general methods.

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Human Food

Sam displays cans in 3 triangular stacks. With the same number he could make one large triangular stack or stack them all in a square based pyramid. How many cans are there how were they arranged?

Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Cat Food

Sam sets up displays of cat food in his shop in triangular stacks. If Felix buys some, then how can Sam arrange the remaining cans in triangular stacks?

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Series Sums

Let S1 = 1 , S2 = 2 + 3, S3 = 4 + 5 + 6 ,........ Calculate S17.

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Forgotten Number

I have forgotten the number of the combination of the lock on my briefcase. I did have a method for remembering it...

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Reciprocal Triangles

Prove that the sum of the reciprocals of the first n triangular numbers gets closer and closer to 2 as n grows.

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Alphabet Blocks

These alphabet bricks are painted in a special way. A is on one brick, B on two bricks, and so on. How many bricks will be painted by the time they have got to other letters of the alphabet?

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

  • Tech help
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Twitter X logo

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.

University of Cambridge logo NRICH logo