Statistics and Probability · Probability
Test the birthday paradox
Calculate and test the chance that two people in a group share a birthday.
- Easy
- 1–3 hours
- Free
606 projects · 13 streams · every class
Mathematics projects 23
Investigations, models, simulations and visual proofs that show mathematics at work, from school topics to university-level modelling.
23 Mathematics projects
We couldn't find an exact match. These are the closest 23, found by leaving out the class and the difficulty.
Or look inPure MathematicsApplied MathematicsStatistics and ProbabilityAll MathematicsTwo-subject projectsHelp me choose
Pure Mathematics + Cybersecurity
Break a secret with number theory: how RSA works
Encrypt and decrypt a message with small primes by hand, then in code, and see why large primes matter.
- Advanced
- 1–2 weeks
- Free
Applied Mathematics + Sociology
Model the spread of a rumour
Build a logistic model of how a rumour spreads through a school and test it with a class game.
- Intermediate
- 1–2 weeks
- Free
Pure Mathematics + Biology
Explore the Fibonacci sequence in nature
Count spirals on pine cones, sunflowers and pineapples and test whether they are Fibonacci numbers.
- Beginner
- 2–7 days
- Free
Pure Mathematics · Trigonometry
Measure heights with trigonometry
Make a clinometer and find the height of your school building, a tree and a tower.
- Easy
- 1 day
- Under 250
Statistics and Probability · Probability
Estimate pi by dropping needles
Drop sticks on ruled paper, count how many cross a line and get an estimate of pi.
- Easy
- 1–3 hours
- Free
Pure Mathematics · Geometry
Prove the Pythagorean theorem five ways
Build paper dissections and algebraic proofs of the theorem and compare how each convinces.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
Pure Mathematics + Fine Arts
Explore tessellations and design your own
Find which regular polygons tile the plane and create an Escher-style tile.
- Beginner
- 1 day
- Under 250
Applied Mathematics + Behavioural Economics
Analyse a simple game with game theory
Play repeated prisoner's dilemma with classmates and compare what they do with the theory.
- Intermediate
- 2–7 days
- Free
Applied Mathematics + Physics
Derive and test the formula for a pendulum by dimensional analysis
Predict how period depends on length using only units, then confirm the power law with a log-log graph.
- Intermediate
- 1 day
- Under 250
Statistics and Probability + Biology
Estimate the size of a crowd or a population by sampling
Use capture-recapture with beans to estimate a hidden total, then judge how accurate the method is.
- Easy
- 1 day
- Under 250
Pure Mathematics · Calculus
Find the best shape for a container
Find the dimensions of a can that hold a fixed volume with the least material, and compare with real cans.
- Intermediate
- 2–7 days
- Under 250
Statistics and Probability · Probability
Design a fair spinner game and prove it
Invent a spinner or dice game, test whether it is fair and fix it if not.
- Beginner
- 1 day
- Under 250
Statistics and Probability · Statistics
Analyse whether a class's exam marks are normally distributed
Plot anonymous marks from several tests and check how well a bell curve describes them.
- Intermediate
- 2–7 days
- Free
Pure Mathematics · Algebra
Make and analyse a magic square
Build 3×3 and 4×4 magic squares and prove why the centre of a 3×3 must be 5.
- Beginner
- 1–3 hours
- Free
Pure Mathematics + Geography
Investigate the four-colour theorem with maps
Colour maps of states and districts with as few colours as possible and link it to graph colouring.
- Easy
- 1 day
- Under 250
Pure Mathematics · Combinatorics
Find patterns in Pascal's triangle
Build 16 rows of the triangle and discover at least six patterns hidden in it.
- Easy
- 1–3 hours
- Free
Pure Mathematics · Algebra
Create a mathematical card trick and explain it
Learn three self-working card tricks and prove with algebra why each works.
- Easy
- 1 day
- Under 250
Applied Mathematics + Political Science
Investigate voting systems with mathematics
Collect ranked preferences from your class and show that different voting rules pick different winners.
- Intermediate
- 1–2 weeks
- Free
Applied Mathematics · Operations Research
Use linear programming to plan a diet or a timetable
Formulate a real two-variable problem, solve it graphically and check with a solver.
- Intermediate
- 2–7 days
- Free
Pure Mathematics + Programming
Map your school as a graph and find shortest paths
Model corridors and rooms as a graph and find the fastest route between any two rooms.
- Intermediate
- 2–7 days
- Free
Statistics and Probability · Probability
Investigate the Monty Hall problem
Play the three-door game 100 times each way and show why switching wins two-thirds of the time.
- Easy
- 1–3 hours
- Free
Statistics and Probability + Development and Applied Economics
Compare measures of central tendency with real incomes
Show with real data why the mean and the median tell different stories about income.
- Easy
- 2–7 days
- Free
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