With puzzles involving coins, postage stamps, and other commonplace items, this book challenges readers to account for perplexing mathematical phenomena. Although sufficiently complex to capture the essential features of mathematical discovery, the elementary methods and solutions permit focus on the way the material is explored. Complete solutions.

This book contains almost 600 unusual and challenging multiple-choice problems designed for students aged 11-15. The first part consists of past papers (1988SH93) for the annual UK Schools Mathematical Challenge. The second part contains forty-two short papers of ten questions each in the same style, and are designed to fill a thirty-minute class or homework slot. This collection of unusual, high quality problems will provide an invaluable resource for all mathematics teachers.