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Place value and the number system Rational and irrational numbers

Resources tagged with: Rational and irrational numbers

Content type:
Age range:
Challenge level:

There are 24 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Rational and irrational numbers, you may find related items under Place value and the number system.

Broad Topics > Place value and the number system > Rational and irrational numbers

Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Repetitiously

Can you express every recurring decimal as a fraction?

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

The Root of the Problem

Find the sum of this series of surds.

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

An Introduction to Irrational Numbers

Tim Rowland introduces irrational numbers

Age 14 to 18
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Irrational Arithmagons

Can you work out the irrational numbers that belong in the circles to make the multiplication arithmagon correct?

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

The Clue Is in the Question

Starting with one of the mini-challenges, how many of the other mini-challenges will you invent for yourself?

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

Road Maker 2

Can you work out where the blue-and-red brick roads end?

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

Impossible Triangles?

Which of these triangular jigsaws are impossible to finish?

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

The Square Hole

If the yellow equilateral triangle is taken as the unit for area, what size is the hole ?

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

Equal Equilateral Triangles

Can you make a regular hexagon from yellow triangles the same size as a regular hexagon made from green triangles ?

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

Impossible Square?

Can you make a square from these triangles?

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

What Are Numbers?

Ranging from kindergarten mathematics to the fringe of research this informal article paints the big picture of number in a non technical way suitable for primary teachers and older students.

Age 7 to 18
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Spirostars

A spiropath is a sequence of connected line segments end to end taking different directions. The same spiropath is iterated. When does it cycle and when does it go on indefinitely?

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

An Introduction to Proof by Contradiction

An introduction to proof by contradiction, a powerful method of mathematical proof.

Age 14 to 18
Article Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

The Dangerous Ratio

This article for pupils and teachers looks at a number that even the great mathematician, Pythagoras, found terrifying.

Age 11 to 14
Article Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

All Is Number

Read all about Pythagoras' mathematical discoveries in this article written for students.

Age 7 to 14
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Rational Round

Show that there are infinitely many rational points on the unit circle and no rational points on the circle x^2+y^2=3.

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

Proof Sorter - the Square Root of 2 Is Irrational

Try this interactivity to familiarise yourself with the proof that the square root of 2 is irrational. Sort the steps of the proof into the correct order.

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

Approximations, Euclid's Algorithm & Continued Fractions

This article sets some puzzles and describes how Euclid's algorithm and continued fractions are related.

Age 16 to 18
Article Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Continued Fractions II

In this article we show that every whole number can be written as a continued fraction of the form k/(1+k/(1+k/...)).

Age 16 to 18
Problem Primary curriculum Secondary curriculum

Making Rectangles, Making Squares

How many differently shaped rectangles can you build using these equilateral and isosceles triangles? Can you make a square?

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

Rationals Between...

What fractions can you find between the square roots of 65 and 67?

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

Rational Roots

Given that a, b and c are natural numbers show that if sqrt a+sqrt b is rational then it is a natural number. Extend this to 3 variables.

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

Good Approximations

Solve quadratic equations and use continued fractions to find rational approximations to irrational numbers.

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

Be Reasonable

Prove that sqrt2, sqrt3 and sqrt5 cannot be terms of ANY arithmetic progression.

Age 16 to 18
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

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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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