30

Maths
Starters
www.subtangent.com/maths
Licence
Duncan Keith 2004 (maths@subtangent.com)
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/0 0aths 1tarters $age 2 www.subtangent.com/maths
'ntro"uction
This is a collection o" $u22les "or 0aths lessons. 3o$e"ull) )ou4ll "ind these are
a bit more interesting than the 5.et4s count u$ in 0.24s6 t)$e o" lesson starter
that teachers in 7ngland are encouraged to use. +t is also ho$ed that some o"
these $u22les can be used as a tal'ing $oint to introduce new mathematical
ideas.
There are $lent) o" old chestnuts here* along with some new $u22les. There
are also a "ew generic starters "or when )ou4re "eeling la2)...
1uggested uses%
8rint onto trans$arencies "or lesson starters
8rint and laminate "or e9tension or small grou$ wor's
Du$licate two to a $age "or homewor'
The star rating is a rough guide to di""icult)%

.ittle teacher in$ut is re:uired. These $u22les don4t re:uire much

mathematics be)ond basic arithmetic.

These ma) re:uire e9$lanations o" 'e) words b) a teacher. The)

ma) re:uire more wor' than one star $u22les* or a $articular
insight to sole them.
These $u22les can be di""icult* and ma) need a lot o" teacher in$ut.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age / www.subtangent.com/maths
;ind The 8ath <
Start at the bottom le!t
s(uare an" mo&e u)* "o$n*
le!t or ri#ht until %ou reach
the !inish.
+ , - - +
. , + / -
0 0 + , ,
- . . . 0
/ / 0 / /
-dd the numbers as )ou go.
Can )ou ma'e e9actl) =/ >
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 4 www.subtangent.com/maths
;inish
1tart
0issing ?umber 2
1hich number shoul" #o in
the em)t% trian#le2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age = www.subtangent.com/maths
/
@ 4
4
A
= </
/
2
B =
C
4
<4 A
3o$ Man% 4rian#les2 3
3o$ man% trian#les can
%ou see in this )icture2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age A www.subtangent.com/maths
4imes 4able +
4here is somethin# stran#e
about this a""ition s(uare.
Can %ou $ork out $hat the
missin# number is2
5 3 . 11
3 0 11 6
. 11 + -
11 6 -
/0 0aths 1tarters $age C www.subtangent.com/maths
Missin# Matches /
Demoe &ust 4 matches to
leae 4 e:uilateral triangles E
the) must be all the same si2e.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age @ www.subtangent.com/maths
4he 7um)in# 8ro# 0
- "rog has "allen into a $it that
is /0m dee$.
7ach da) the "rog climbs /m*
but "alls bac' 2m at night. 3ow
man) da)s does it ta'e "or him
to esca$e>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age B www.subtangent.com/maths
Number 9%rami"s -
Can )ou wor' out what
number will be at the to$ o"
the $)ramid>
2B 2@
</ <A <2
A C B /
Can )ou ma'e a $)ramid with
<00 at the to$>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age <0 www.subtangent.com/maths
Number :ace .
3ere are the !irst !e$
s(uare numbers;
< 4 B <A 2= /A 4B
3ere are the !irst !e$
8ibonacci numbers;
< < 2 / = @ </
The s:uare numbers are well
in the lead. Do the ;ibonacci
numbers eer catch u$>
...an" here are the
trian#ular numbers comin#
u) on the rails...
< / A <0 <= 2< 2@
/0 0aths 1tarters $age << www.subtangent.com/maths
9er!ection ,
0 is a &er% s)ecial number.
4he !actors o! 0 are 1* 6* 3
an" 0.
'! $e a"" the !actors other
than 0 $e #et 15653<0.
Can )ou "ind another $er"ect
number>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age <2 www.subtangent.com/maths
Ma#ic S(uares 10
Can %ou )ut the "i#its 1 to ,
in a s(uare so that e&er%
ro$* column an" "ia#onal
a"" to 1/2
4his e=am)le "oesn>t $ork;
1 3 /
,
, 0 +
1
,
6 - .
1
-
13 16 1
0
1
-
1/
/0 0aths 1tarters $age </ www.subtangent.com/maths
/0 0aths 1tarters $age <4 www.subtangent.com/maths
?ames 11
8ool balls are numbered "rom < to <=.
#hat is the total o" the numbers on all
the balls>
@ominoes ha&e t$o )arts* each
can ha&e !rom 0 to 0 s)ots. 3o$
man% "i!!erent "ominoes are
there in a set2
+" )ou roll 2 dice and add the s$ots are
)ou more li'el) to get an een or an
odd number> #hat i" )ou multi$l)
instead>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age <= www.subtangent.com/maths
1
9
2
1 0
3
1 1
4
1 2
5
1 3 6
1 4
7
1 5
8
Mont% 3all 16
!ou are the winner in a :ui2
show and can choose a $ri2e
"rom behind / loc'ed doors.
Fehind one door is a new car.
Fehind the other two doors are
goats.
1hen %ou ha&e ma"e %our
choice the host o)ens one
o! the other "oors to re&eal
a #oat.
1hould )ou stic' with )our
choice* or switch to the other
one> ,r does it ma'e no
di""erence>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age <A www.subtangent.com/maths
Number Lines 1 13
Can )ou $ut the numbers < to C
in each circle so that the total o"
eer) line is <2>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age <C www.subtangent.com/maths
Number Lines 6 1+
Can )ou $ut the digits < to << in
the circles so that eer) line has
the same total>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age <@ www.subtangent.com/maths
1or"s A Numbers 1/
4he number + in...
Nor$e#ian*
!ire
@utch*
&ier
an" Bn#lish
!our
but not in
8rench (uatre
ha&e somethin# in
common. 4he% all ha&e the
same number o! letters as
their name (+).
Can %ou !in" more numbers
like this2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age <B www.subtangent.com/maths
8our 4$os Make 4en 10
4here are lots o! $a%s o!
makin# . $ith !our 6s
usin# stan"ar"
mathematical notation. 8or
e=am)le;
6565656 * or
e&en 6
656
C 6.
Can %ou !in" another $a%2
Can %ou !in" a $a% o!
makin# , $ith !our 6s2
1hat is the bi##est
number %ou can make $ith
!our 6s2
#hat is the smallest number )ou
can4t ma'e with "our 2s>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 20 www.subtangent.com/maths
9etrol 9rices 1-
Some )etrol stations
"is)la% )rices b% stickin#
se#ments to#ether to make
numbers.
1hat is the lar#est number
%ou can make $ith 10
se#ments2
#hat is the largest )ou can ma'e
with <A segments>
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 2< www.subtangent.com/maths
C@.2
0<2/4=AC@B
A 8ish% 4ale 1.
'! %ou $rite the $or" CD@
in a #ri" like this there are
t$o $a%s o! s)ellin# the
$or".
3o$ man% $a%s can %ou
make 3AKB2
1hat about CDLB or
SALMDN2
Can %ou )re"ict ho$ man%
$a%s there are to make
EA::ACU@A2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 22 www.subtangent.com/maths
C ,
, D
C ,
, D
C ,
, D
3 -
- K
K
7
C , .
, . 7
. 7 !
1 - .
- . 0
. 0 ,
0
,
?
3o$ Man% S(uares2 1,
3o$ man% s(uares can %ou
see in this )attern2
3o$ man% rectan#les are
there2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 2/ www.subtangent.com/maths
4he KFni#sber# Eri"#es
60
4he cit% o! KFni#sber# ha"
se&en bri"#es that crosse"
the ri&er 9re#el.
Can %ou !in" a $a% o!
crossin# all the bri"#es
e=actl% once2
ou can>t #o o&er a bri"#e
more than once.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 24 www.subtangent.com/maths
+sland (D)
Dier ban' (F)
+sland (C)
Dier ban' (-)
Crooke" Calculator G 61
Bric has #ot all the sums $ron#.
Bach time he )resse" e=actl% one
$ron# ke%.
G2=H/AI
900
G=H/H2I
317
G@H@H2I
3
Ga<AH<I
41
Can %ou $ork out $hich ke%s he
actuall% )resse"2
Bric mana#es to )ress the ri#ht
ke%s but #ets them in the $ron#
or"er. Can %ou #et the ke%s in the
ri#ht or"er2
G2/H=AI
61
G=H/(2I
0
G@/@42I
103
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 2= www.subtangent.com/maths
Ga/<HAI
7
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 2A www.subtangent.com/maths
@rinkers 66
'n the to$n o! Ketterb%
@0J drin' cola
C0J drin' co""ee
=0J drin' tea
's it certain there is
someone $ho "rinks cola*
co!!ee an" tea2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 2C www.subtangent.com/maths
Coin o! the :ealm 63
4hese are the coins
commonl% use" in Eritain
to"a%
1hat is the !e$est number
o! coins %ou nee" to make
(a) .3) (b) H1.3+ (c)
H/.6-2
1hat is the smallest
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 2@ www.subtangent.com/maths
20$
=0$
G<
<0$
=$ <$ 2$
G2
amount that nee"s more
than / coins2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 2B www.subtangent.com/maths
8our Lines 6+
9ut , "ots in a s(uare like
this
Can %ou #o throu#h all ,
"ots $ith !our strai#ht
lines2
ou can>t take %our )en o!!
the )a)er.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /0 www.subtangent.com/maths
ou can start $here %ou
like.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /< www.subtangent.com/maths
Eack 4o 8ront 6/
1rite "o$n a 6 "i#it
number
A2
:e&erse the "i#its
2A
1ork out the "i!!erence
A2 K 2A I /A
4r% more 6 "i#it numbers.
Can %ou see a )attern2
1hat ha))ens $ith 3 "i#it
numbers2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /2 www.subtangent.com/maths
St. '&es 60
As ' $as #oin# to St. '&es*
' met a man $ith - $i&es.
Bach o! the $i&es ha" -
sacks.
'n each sack $ere - cats.
Bach o! the cats ha" - kits.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age // www.subtangent.com/maths
Kits* cats* sacks* $i&es I
ho$ man% $ere #oin# to
St. '&es2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /4 www.subtangent.com/maths
8ruit!ul 6-
4here are three bo=es.
Dne bo= contains )ears*
one contains oran#es* an"
one contains )ears an"
oran#es.
4he labels ha&e !allen o!!
an" all ha&e been stuck
back on the $ron# bo=es.
Earr% o)ens one bo= an"
$ithout lookin# in the bo=
takes out one )iece o!
!ruit. 3e looks at the !ruit
an" imme"iatel% )uts the
labels on the the ri#ht
bo=es.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /= www.subtangent.com/maths
8
e
a
r
s
8
e
a
r
s
,
r
a
n
g
e
s
8ears L
,ranges
3o$ "i" he "o it2
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /A www.subtangent.com/maths
Sum A 9ro"uct A1
8in" 6 numbers $hose
sum is JJJJJ an"
)ro"uct is JJJJJ .
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /C www.subtangent.com/maths
H
I
M
I
H
I
M
I
3arr% 4he 3e"#eho# A6
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /@ www.subtangent.com/maths
M
4
M
<
<
M
/
N
2
M
B
M
@
N
<
0
M
<
2
M
=
M2
00
4o"a%>s Number A3
4o"a%>s number is
A"" 1-
@ouble it
Multi)l% it b% 10
3al&e it
Subtract -
Multi)l% b% 0
S(uare it
8in" its !actors
8in" K o! it
/0 0aths 1tarters $age /B www.subtangent.com/maths
Notes
<. ;ind The 8ath
3ere is one
solution%
= H C H A H A H B
H 4 H = H C H 4 I
=/
- tougher
challenge is to "ind a route to ma'e
A0.
2. 0issing ?umber
The missing number is / (add the
bottom two numbers and diide b) the
to$ number). 1tudents ma) be
encouraged to come u$ with $u22les
o" their own.
/. 3ow 0an) Triangles>
<2 H A H 2 I 60
4. Times Table
11 5 11 < 10. This could clearl) be
e9tended to other moduli. The more
obserant students ma) s$ot the clue
in the title.
=. 0issing 0atches
3ow ma) di""erent solutions are there>
A. The Oum$ing ;rog
't $ill take him 6. "a%s to esca)e.
-"ter 2C da)s and nights the "rog has
onl) / metres to go. ,n the 2@th da)
the "rog is able to &um$ clear.
C. ?umber 8)ramids
/-. 7ach number is obtained b)
adding the two immediatel) below it. -
good strateg) "or soling these $u22les
is to start with the target number in
$lace and to wor' downwards. This
can clearl) be e9tended to non(
integral and negatie targets.
@. ?umber Dace
The <2th s:uare and ;ibonacci
numbers are both <44. -"ter this the
;ibonacci numbers are in the lead. The
<0th ;ibonacci and triangular numbers
are both ==. -"ter this the triangular
numbers are "oreer doomed to /rd
$lace. - good o$$ortunit) to e9$lore
the ;ibonacci numbers.
B. 8er"ection
6. I < H 2 H 4 H C H <4. The ne9t
two are +,0 and .16.. The een
$er"ect numbers are related to the
Mersenne primes.
2
p
1
is a $rime i" and onl) i"
2
p 1
2
p
1 is a $er"ect number. +t is
not 'nown i" there are an) odd $er"ect
numbers. !ou could inestigate
multi$le($er"ect numbers* where the
sum o" the $ro$er diisors o" a number
is an e9act multi$le o" it.
<0. 0agic 1:uares
3ere is one solution%
. 1 0 I<
=
3 / - I<
=
+ , 6 I<
=
I<
=
I<
=
I<
=
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 40 www.subtangent.com/maths
+ , - - +
. , + / -
0 0 + , ,
- . . . 0
/ / 0 / /
<< oPcloc' <0 oPcloc'
H << hours
Diagonals% 4 H = H A I <=* @ H = H 2
I<=.
1ee -$$endi9 - "or a "airl) sim$le
method "or constructing magic
s:uares o" odd order.
<<. Qames
9ool; 160
8air o"" the balls <H<=* 2H<4* etc.
This gies seen $airs. C M <A I <<2.
-dding the @ ball gies <20.
@ominoes; 6.
.ist the dominoes with a blan' (0)%
0(0* 0(<* 0(2* ...* 0(A (C dominoes)
Then list those with a <%
<(<* <(2* <(/* ...* <(A (A dominoes).
#e miss out the <(0 as this is in the
"irst list. Continuing in the same wa)
gies
< H 2 H / H ... H C I 2@
@ice;
1
2
Podd on dice=Peven=
1
2
Podd sum=Podd + evenPeven + odd
=
1
2

1
2

1
2

1
2
=
1
4

1
4
=
1
2
-lternatiel) )ou could draw a sam$le
s$ace diagram and get counting...
<2. The 0ont) 3all 8roblem
!ou should s$itch (assuming )ou
would $re"er a car to a goat). +t is
tem$ting to assume that the two
remaining doors hae an e:ual chance
o" hiding the star $ri2e* but this
neglects the "act that the hostPs choice
o" door to o$en is not inde$endent o"
)our initial choice.
The $robabilit) o" )our initial choice
being correct is
1
3
. This $robabilit)
doesn4t change when the host o$ens
one o" the other doors. 1o the
$robabilit) that the remaining door
hides the $ri2e is
2
3
. !ou can "ind lots
more on the R0ont) 3all 8roblem4 at
htt$%//math.rice.edu/Sddonoan/mont)url.htm
l
</. ?umber .ines <
!ou could gie the hint that the centre
digit is 4.
<4. ?umber .ines 2
This is a little easier than the $reious
$u22le. 8ut A in the centre. Then $lace
< o$$osite <<* 2 o$$osite <0* etc. to
gie totals o" <@. +n both $u22les the
realisation that )ou should $ut the
median number in the centre to
maintain s)mmetr) hel$s enormousl).
(!ou could also $ut < or << in the
centre* since the remaining numbers
can be $aired o"" in these cases to
gie totals o" <4 and 22.
<=. #ords L ?umbers
-n orthonymic number is one that has
the same number o" letters as its
name suggests. 5;our6 is probably
uni:ue in 7nglish. (3ow would )ou
$roe it>) 1ome more e9otic e9am$les
include 5:ueig6 (0an9* =)T 5bederat2i6
(Fas:ue* B)T 5du6 (7s$eranto* 2) and
5amashumi amabili nesi'hombisa6
(Uulu* 2C).
-n interesting :uestion is to "ind
e9$ressions that are orthon)mic* e.g.
5"ie add seen6 (<2 letters).
<A. ;our Twos 0a'e Ten
Two other wa)s o" ma'ing @ are 2M2
H 2M2 and the less obious

2
2
2!2
.
2
2
2 2
=65536
may be the largest i" we
restrict ourseles to $owers and the 4
basic o$erations. C is the smallest
$ositie integer that cannot be made
without resource to "actorials etc. -
calculator is use"ul.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 4< www.subtangent.com/maths
7 2
3
4
5 6
1
<C. 8etrol 8rices
<<<<< and <<<<<<<< V a good wa) o"
showing the im$ortance o" $lace
alue. - more interesting :uestion is
to as' how man) different numbers
can be made with C segments.
<@. - ;ish) Tale
C,D% 2* 3-K7% /* C,.7!% A* 1-.0,?%
<0
The "ormula "or a word o" length n is
{
n1!

n1
2
!
n1
2
!
, if n is odd
n1!

n
2
1!
n
2
!
, if n is even
1o F-DD-CWD- gies @X/(4X4X) I C0.
This is discussed in -$$endi9 F.
<B. 3ow 0an) 1:uares>
2@ @ <M<* <A @ 2M2* A @ /M/* 2 @
4M4.
Total% /6
20. The Fridges ," KYnigsberg
+t can4t be done. .oo' at this networ'%
7er) time we enter a $iece o" land we
must leae it b) a di""erent bridge. 1o
there must be an een number o"
bridges attached to each $iece o" land
(e9ce$t "or the start and "inish). There
are "our $ieces o" land with an odd
number o" bridges. 7en i" we ta'e the
start and "inish into account there
must be another $iece o" land with an
unused bridge.
+" )ou remoe one o" the bridges then
it becomes $ossible (such a $ath is
called an Eulerian path). Does it
matter which bridge )ou remoe>
!ou can "ind details o" a isit b) a
mathematician to KYnigsberg at
htt$%//www.amt.canberra.edu.au/'oenigs.html
2<. Croo'ed Calculator
G2=9/AI 900
G=H/<2I 317
G@/@H2I 3
Ga<A@<I 41
G2=H/AI 61
G/H2(=I 0
G@24/@I 103
Ga/AH<I 7
22. Drin'ers
?o E it is not certain. 1u$$ose there
were <0 $eo$le in Ketterb). !ou could
hae%

cola
co""ee
tea
20J is the ma9imum $ossible
$ercentage o" $eo$le who drin' none
o" the beerages.
2/. Coin o" the Dealm
(a) @/$ I =0$ H 20$ H <0$ H 2$ H <$
(b) G<./4 I G< H 20$ H <0$ H 2$ H 2$
(c) G=.2C I G2 H G2 H G< H 20$ H =$
H 2$
@@$ I =0$ H 20$ H <0$ H =$ H 2$ H
<$ needs si9 coins.
24. ;our .ines
!ou hae to (literall)) thin' outside the
bo9 to sole this old chestnut.
3erePs one solution%
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 42 www.subtangent.com/maths
A
D
B
C
2=. Fac' To ;ront
The answers are all multi)les o! ,.
+t4s not too di""icult to $roe this%
The original number can be written as
x=10ab where a and b are the two
digits. The reersed number is
there"ore y=10ba and the di""erence
is
xy=10 ab10 ba=9a9b
=9ab
i.e. B times the di""erence in the digits
o" the original number.
;or three digit numbers )ou will get
multi)les o! ,,.
2A. 1t. +es
- tric' :uestion. 1ince )ou met the
man on the wa) to 1t. +es* he and his
entourage must be coming from 1t.
+es. 1o the answer is &ust one E )ou. +"
)ou4re "eeling eil )ou might want to
cons$icuousl) distribute calculators "or
this $u22le.
+" )ou do actuall) go through the
calculations )ou should get
77
2
7
3
7
4

I C H 4B H /4/ H 240< I 2@00.
This $roblem is er) old indeed. +t is
su$$osed to date bac' to the ancient
7g)$tians%
htt$%//maths"oreuro$e.digibel.be/stor).htm
2C. ;ruit"ul
Farr) o$ened the bo9 labelled 5$ears
L oranges6. This bo9 must contain
onl) $ears or onl) oranges. +" he $ic's
a $ear then he 'nows the bo9 he
o$ens is 5$ears6 and the other two
bo9es must be 5oranges6 and 5$ears
and oranges6. The one labelled
5oranges6 must be wrong so it is
labelled as 5$ears and oranges6. -
similar argument wor's i" he $ic's an
orange.
+n summar)%
He
picks
Pears Orange
s
P & O
A pear ,ranges 8 L , 8ears
An
orange
8 L , 8ears ,ranges
-<. 1um and 8roduct
3ere are a "ew suggestions%
sum produc
t
numbers
<0 B <* B
<= =0 =* <0
@ <= /* =
<@ =A 4* <4
@Z 4 Z* @
4 /[ <Z* 2Z
/ <.@B 0.B* 2.<
- little algebra shows that "or sum s
and $roduct p the numbers are
1
2
ss
2
4p .
-2. 3arr) The 3edgehog
#rite a number in his bell)...
-/. Toda)4s ?umber
Oust "or "un tr) \.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 4/ www.subtangent.com/maths
A))en"i= A I Ma#ic
S(uares
There is a well 'nown wa) o" constructing magic s:uares o" o"" order% /M/*
=M=* etc.
<. 8ut the number < in the to$ centre s$ace.
2. 0oe diagonall) u$ and right. +" that s$ace is
alread) occu$ied then moe down instead. 8ut
the ne9t consecutie number in that s$ace.
/. De$eat until all s:uares are "illed.
," course )ou will "ind that )our moes ta'e )ou
out o" the original s:uare. +t hel$s to thin' o" the
$lane being tiled with co$ies o" )our s:uare* so
that )ou moe to the corres$onding s$ace. +n the
diagram to the right a moe "rom B ta'es )ou to i
(the bottom right s$ace)* so the ne9t number will
go in I* the corres$onding s$ace in the main
s:uare.
3ere4s how it wor's "or a /M/ s:uare%
-"ter we hae $laced / we "ind that
the slot "or 4 is alread) "illed*so we
moe down instead. #e also hae to
do this when tr)ing to $lace C.
1ee i" )ou can re$roduce this =M=
magic s:uare using this method.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 44 www.subtangent.com/maths
a b c a b c a b c
d e " d e " d e "
g h i g h i g h i
a b c - F C a b c
d e " D 7 ; d e "
g h i Q 3 + g h i
a b c a b c a b c
d e " d e " d e "
g h i g h i g h i
i g h i g
c -
1
C a
" D 7 ; d
i Q 3 + g
c a b c a
i g h i g
c -
1
C a
" D 7 ; d
i Q 3
2
g
c a b c a
i g h i g
c -
1
C a
"
3
7 ; d
i Q 3
2
g
c a b c a
i g h i g
c -
1
C a
"
3
7 ; d
i
4
3
2
g
c a b c a
i g h i g
c -
1
C a
"
3 5
; d
i
4
3
2
g
c a b c a
i g h i g
c -
1 6
a
"
3 5
; d
i
4
3
2
g
c a b c a
i g h i g
c -
1 6
a
"
3 5 7
d
i
4
3
2
g
c a b c a
i g h i g
c
8 1 6
a
"
3 5 7
d
i
4
3
2
g
c a b c a
8 1 6
3 5 7
4 9 2
17 24 1 8 15
23 5 7 14 16
4 6 13 20 22
10 12 19 21 3
11 18 25 2 9
A))en"i= E I Cit% Elocks
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 4= www.subtangent.com/maths
8u22le <@ is in "act a ariation o" the RCit) Floc's 8roblem4%
5!ou are in a cit) where the roads are laid out in a grid. -t each intersection
)ou can onl) trael 7ast or 1outh. 3ow man) di""erent wa)s are there o"
getting "rom - to F>6
!ou should be able to conince )oursel" that whateer route )ou choose
re:uires "our R7asts4 and three R1ouths4%
7171717 7771711 7117771 1717177
1o the $roblem reduces to 53ow man) di""erent wa)s are there o" writing "our
74s and three 14s>6 +t4s not immediatel) obious how we can "ind the answer.
1o we loo' at a similar $roblem%
53ow man) di""erent permutations are there o" the letters -* F* C* D* 7* ;* Q.6
There are seen wa)s o" choosing the "irst letter.
?o matter which letter )ou choose (e.g. C) there are si9 letters remaining
(e.g. -* F* D* 7* ;* Q) * so there are C M A wa)s o" $ic'ing the "irst two letters.
?ow there are "ie letters le"t so we hae C M A M = wa)s o" $ic'ing the "irst
three letters. Continuing in this wa) we "ind there are C M A M = M 4 M / M 2
M < I =040 $ermutations.
#e write C M A M = M 4 M / M 2 M < as CX (5"actorial seen6).
The number o" $ermutations o" n di""erent ob&ects is n! .
That4s "ine i" all the letters are di""erent but in our Cit) Floc' $roblem some o"
the letters are re$eated. .et4s loo' at a sim$ler $roblem%
3ere we hae three R7asts4 and two R1ouths4. 1o the $roblem is
the same as 53ow man) $ermutations are there o" the letters 7*
7* 7* 1* 1 >6
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 4A www.subtangent.com/maths
-
F
-
F
-
F
-
F
-
F
-
F
-$$endi9 F E Cit) Floc's
- bit o" trial and error should conince )ou there are ten $ermutations%
77711 77171 77117 71771 71717 71177 17771 17717 17177 11777
#e 'now that there are =X I = M 4 M / M 2 M < I <20 $ermutations o" -* F*
C* D* 7. 1o b) re$eating letters we hae drasticall) reduced the number o"
$ermutations. #e can see wh) b) distinguishing the 74s. 1u$$ose we write
the 74s as 7
<
* 7
2
* 7
/
. #e can see that each o" our solutions aboe can be
written in si9 wa)s* e.g. The solution 71177 would become si9 di""erent
solutions%
7
<
117
2
7
/
7
<
117
/
7
2
7
2
117
<
7
/
7
2
117
/
7
<
7
/
117
<
7
2
7
/
117
2
7
<
There are in "act /X I / M 2 M < I A di""erent $ermutations o" 7
<
* 7
2
* 7
/
. The
number o" $ermutations is reduced b) a "actor o" /X. 1imilarl) re$eating the 1
reduces the number o" $ermutations b) a "actor o" 2X. 1o "or our smaller Cit)
Floc' $roblem we hae
5!
3! 2!
=
120
62
=10
solutions.
#e hae a general solution "or an) Cit) Floc' $roblem%
- Cit) Floc' $roblem with e R7asts4 and s R1ouths4 has
es!
e! s!
di""erent
routes.
,ur original cit) bloc' $roblem has e=4 and s=3 so has
7!
4! 3!
=
5040
246
=35
di""erent
routes.
#e can a$$l) this to the R;ish) Tale4 $roblem. 3erePs F-DD-CWD- written as
a Cit) Floc' $roblem%
3ere e=4 and s=4 so there are
8!
4! 4 !
=
40320
2424
=70
routes.
- little more wor' leads to the "ormula gien in the notes%
- word o" length n can be s$elled in
{
n1!

n1
2
!
n1
2
!
, if n is odd
n1!

n
2
1!
n
2
!
, if n is even
wa)s.
/0 0aths 1tarters $age 4C www.subtangent.com/maths
F - D D -
- D D - C
D D - C W
D - C W D
- C W D -