A Puzzle For You (from NCETM)

How far can you get for £50?

It's hasn't been often enough that I have set such an open question as the basis of a lesson and I'm not sure when I will use it but there's something quite exciting about this. Given a computer room and an enthusiastic class with a goal (e.g. to give a presentation at the start of next lesson) I think this could be excellent. I might try the investigation for myself, I'll post my attempt if and when I do!

Oh and by the way I overheard some people talking about a presentation they went to at the ATM Conference, I think it was the NCETM one. It is from them that I got this puzzle! So thanks to you guys.

What do you get if you...

So here goes making a start with things and all. I've been wanting to do this for a while. Writing... about maths that is. You see I'm often struck by something or other to do with maths. So here is my small meaningless foray into the blogosphere *shudder*.

So where now? I guess we should get things a-going! a-rolling!

I was shown a problem today...

You have to place the numbers 1 to 7 in each of the 7 sections such that each circle's numbers sum to the same total... i.e. if you put 1 to 4 in the first 4 sections...

the first circle would sum to 1 + 2 = 3
the second circle would sum to 2 + 3 + 4 = 9
So this can't be right...

The real problem comes in when you try to solve this without resulting to trial and improvement...hmm...I found a solution I'm just not convinced that it was a very mathematical way of going about things...I'll leave it to the comments I guess...