Question 3- Diamond of Light
A favourite table decoration in our house is the Diamond
of Light. It's made of nine lamp holders and there are 9 lamps of
different intensities that have to be positioned in the lamp holders.
When we first opened the box, we read the assembly
instructions and can remember clever part of the decoration was that the
lamps only light up when the totals of intensities along each side are the
same. In the rush to clear up after Christmas last year, we lost the
instructions, and now don't know where the bulbs should be positioned.
Challenge
Please give us some naturally mathematical advice as to
where the bulbs should go.
If possible, could you show us what different ways the
lamps can be positioned, because that's part of the charm of the
decoration - it doesn't have to look the same every day.
P.S. To solve this problem, you'll find that if you
click on the picture, you are linked to an applet that will be a big help
in finding solutions. That's our Christmas present to you!
Question 4 - Reflection
An important part of Christmas is the looking back over
the year that has past and remembering and reflecting on what happened to
you and your friends.
As your last challenge for this Naturally Mathematical Challenge, we would
like you, as a team, to look back over what you have done in the
competition this year and to let us know:
Last
year we found this charming puzzle in one of our Christmas crackers. The
picture of the Christmas tree forms the board and the puzzle pieces are
all the same and shaped like a miniature Santa sleigh.
