mscroggs.co.uk
mscroggs.co.uk

subscribe

Puzzles

14 December

The function \(f(x)=ax+b\) (where \(a\) and \(b\) are real constants) satisfies
$$-x^3+2x^2+6x-9\leqslant f(x)\leqslant x^2-2x+3$$
whenever \(0\leqslant x\leqslant3\). What is \(f(200)\)?

Show answer

Find them all

Find all continuous positive functions, \(f\) on \([0,1]\) such that:
$$\int_0^1 f(x) dx=1\\ \mathrm{and }\int_0^1 xf(x) dx=\alpha\\ \mathrm{and }\int_0^1 x^2f(x) dx=\alpha^2$$

Show answer & extension

Odd and even outputs

Let \(g:\mathbb{N}\times\mathbb{N}\rightarrow\mathbb{N}\) be a function.
This means that \(g\) takes two natural number inputs and gives one natural number output. For example if \(g\) is defined by \(g(n,m)=n+m\) then \(g(3,4)=7\) and \(g(10,2)=12\).
The function \(g(n,m)=n+m\) will give an even output if \(n\) and \(m\) are both odd or both even and an odd output if one is odd and the other is even. This could be summarised in the following table:
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddevenodd
eoddeven
Using only \(+\) and \(\times\), can you construct functions \(g(n,m)\) which give the following output tables:
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddoddodd
eoddodd
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddoddodd
eoddeven
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddoddodd
eevenodd
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddoddodd
eeveneven
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddoddeven
eoddodd
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddoddeven
eoddeven
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddoddeven
eevenodd
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddoddeven
eeveneven
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddevenodd
eoddodd
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddevenodd
eoddeven
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddevenodd
eevenodd
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddevenodd
eeveneven
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddeveneven
eoddodd
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddeveneven
eoddeven
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddeveneven
eevenodd
\(n\)
oddeven
\(m\)oddeveneven
eeveneven

Show answer & extension

Tags: functions

Bézier curve

A Bézier curve is created as follows:
1) A set of points \(P_0\), ..., \(P_n\) are chosen (in the example \(n=4\)).
2) A set of points \(Q_0\), ..., \(Q_{n-1}\) are defined by \(Q_i=t P_{i+1}+(1-t) P_i\) (shown in green).
3) A set of points \(R_0\), ..., \(R_{n-2}\) are defined by \(R_i=t Q_{i+1}+(1-t) Q_i\) (shown in blue).
.
.
.
\(n\)) After repeating the process \(n\) times, there will be one point. The Bézier curve is the path traced by this point at \(t\) varies between 0 and 1.

What is the Cartesian equation of the curve formed when:
$$P_0=\left(0,1\right)$$ $$P_1=\left(0,0\right)$$ $$P_2=\left(1,0\right)$$

Show answer & extension

Archive

Show me a random puzzle
 Most recent collections 

Advent calendar 2025

Advent calendar 2024

Advent calendar 2023

Advent calendar 2022


List of all puzzles

Tags

ellipses coordinates gerrymandering cryptic clues chocolate powers grids even numbers medians circles polynomials floors scales functions lists mean chess bases crosswords combinatorics pentagons decahedra arrows doubling irreducible numbers proportion digits integers geometric mean determinants calculus rugby factors complex numbers quadrilaterals volume quadratics tangents ave neighbours xor remainders numbers prime factors indices menace speed clocks shape factorials partitions geometry symmetry median graphs prime numbers sport books perfect numbers games division consecutive integers surds christmas crossnumbers logic hexagons triangles sequences odd numbers angles planes geometric means triangle numbers dates integration dominos cryptic crossnumbers square roots unit fractions trigonometry expansions number averages albgebra shapes probabilty products people maths parabolas square grids time advent cube numbers wordplay tournaments sums palindromes axes 3d shapes money addition the only crossnumber star numbers folding tube maps dice multiplaction squares area perimeter probability consecutive numbers digital products fractions 2d shapes range sum to infinity sets regular shapes multiplication lines pascal's triangle differentiation square numbers polygons rectangles cubics percentages multiples cards routes squares taxicab geometry digital clocks algebra chalkdust crossnumber matrices means spheres balancing dodecagons tiling elections colouring coins binary

Archive

Show me a random puzzle
▼ show ▼
© Matthew Scroggs 2012–2026