magic squares

these task sheets (and solutions) can be clicked to produce and save larger images
easier tasks are in the older posts and become more demanding towards more recent posts
hopefully the resources illustrate that 'magic' squares provide a context for a variety of skill practice - with:
- some form of problem solving requested;
- considerations about relationships, justification and proof;
- extending work to an involvement of symbols;
- developing to quite complex uses of algebra.

I am indebted to Martin Hansen, whose articles in Maths in School (march 2010, sept 2010 and and nov 2010) provided much clarity on a possible teaching sequence and an understanding of relationships and solution techniques

Wednesday 11 May 2011

geomagic squares

Lee Sallows's ever so impressive work on making geometric magic squares was described in the Guardian recently and many examples can be found on Lee's website

the shapes combine to make the same overall rectangle (or other shape)

one way to use these with students is to present them with the magic square shapes and ask them what the totals are (as shown below), possibly with some of the shapes missing












these solutions show how, remarkably, the shapes combine to create the same rectangle (or other shape) - with the same properties as a number magic square











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