It was a 50-50 split at best but they got the vibe.

Problem of the Week 169!

Please do not comment the solution so others can work it out too. Instead, like this post or comment a thumbs up if you think you have the correct answer!

The solution will be posted in the comments on Thursday afternoon.

#Problem #UKMT #Maths

The f(x)-Files (in the style of the tv show X-Files). Below it, the tagline reads The Calculus is Out There, followed by the phrase I Want to Derive. A section titled Mission Objective states that the Bureau has intercepted fragments of data regarding unidentified functions. The mission is to use these fragments, such as slopes, concavity, and specific coordinates, to reconstruct a mystery function's graph.

An image titled Case #1 with a red Classified stamp. The text asks to make the graph of a continuous function that satisfies all of the stated conditions provided in a six-cell table. The conditions are as follows: f(-2) = 0 and f'(-2) = 0; f(0) = 2 and f'(0) = 0; f(2) = 0 and f'(2) = 0; f'(x) is greater than 0 for x between -2 and 0; f'(x) is less than 0 for x less than -2 or x greater than 0; f''(x) is greater than 0 for x less than -1 or x between 1 and 2.

Overhauling on an old #calculus curve sketching activity. Each year, I put a bit of a different spin on it and hopefully improve it. #ITeachMath #MathSky pbbmath.weebly.com/blog/the-fx-...

Book of the Year 2025 - Chalkdust For the first time in Chalkdust history, we have a double winner

For the first time ever, @chalkdustmag.bsky.social 's Book of the Year is a DOUBLE WINNER, with the same book being chosen by the editors AND winning the people's choice poll.

That double-winner is, I am very proud to announce, The Mathematicians' Library!

chalkdustmagazine.com/book-of-the-...

[New Post] Ontario Math Links - My favourite #math related links from this week:

ontariomath.blogspot.com/2026/04/math...

Links and help from @theericklee.bsky.social @studymaths.bsky.social @howiehua.bsky.social @pwharris.bsky.social and more #MathChat #MTBoS #iTeachMath

A 3 x 3 grid crossnumber puzzle.

Puzzle #10
Complete the crossnumber.
ACROSS
1 The only prime number even
2 The Binary Number 1000
3 The Roman Numeral D
4 Half of a dozen
5 The cube of 2
DOWN
1 Square number
2 Palindromic number
Check the solution in hte comments.
#math #crossnumber #puzzle

The book Mastering Geometry Puzzles on a desk.

My book Mastering Geometry Puzzles is officially available today!
120 geometry puzzles, 5 levels of difficulty, all with step-by-step solutions.
@routledgebooks.bsky.social
#math #geometry #puzzle #book #MasteringGeometryPuzzles #BookSky

A teacher texted me after seeing your session at #SUM2026 and said, "I saw a really great speaker this morning, she would be a great keynote for the Nova Scotia MTA conference in October." 🤩

A slide titled Target Answer Challenge. A green banner in the center reads Design two different math problems where the answer is 2x plus 1. Below the banner are two colored boxes. On the left is a red box titled Linear Relations with the instruction Design a problem where the goal is to determine the equation of a line. Underneath it says Think about: Constructing a problem using two coordinate points, or using a point and a given parallel or perpendicular line. On the right is a blue box titled Differential Calculus with the instruction Design a problem where the goal is to determine the derivative of a function. Underneath it says Think about: Finding the first derivative of a second-degree polynomial, or the second derivative of a third-degree polynomial.

A problem to start calculus class on Monday. We're not to integration yet, but I want to start nudging student thinking in that direction. Plus a bit of retrieval practice and creative thinking/problem solving. #ITeachMath

I’ll have to write up our activity when we have awarded the cup to the winning team.

A small gold cup trophy on a wooden base with a plaque that reads “Citadel High School Calculus Cup”

Students in my Calculus class working in teams to win the coveted Calculus Cup today. It’s no Stanley Cup but the students seem motivated. #ITeachMath

@smtsca.bsky.social listening to @themathguru.bsky.social drop some truth bombs during her evening keynote 💫 #SUM2026

Gave this warmup question to my class today. Students had to think carefully about the function and what x represents in each statement. Great discussions. @studymaths.bsky.social #ITeachMath #MathSky

None of my students noticed it was the only odd function but the did say the bottom right was the only function with both domain and range all real numbers. They also noticed it is the only function with no decreasing interval.

Two Truths and a Lie activity for a Calculus class. The image shows Station 3, which features a coordinate plane. The graph shows a function that is a straight line with a positive slope for x less than 0. At the origin (0, 1), there is a sharp corner, and for x greater than 0, the graph curves upward (concave up). The image includes three numbers in circles—61, 19, and 38—next to three statements: Statement 1: There is an inflection point at x = 0 because the concavity of the function changes there. Statement 2: The function is continuous but not differentiable at x = 0. Statement 3: To the left of the y-axis, the second derivative f double prime of x is equal to zero. The instructions at the bottom tell students to identify which statement is the lie and explain why it is not true.

I pivoted from an individual online task to a collaborative paper-and-pencil "2 Truths and a Lie" activity. Trading the code for conversation led to some of the richest math discussions we’ve had this semester. #ITeachMath #MathSky pbbmath.weebly.com/blog/trading...

An educational graphic titled Which One Doesn’t Belong. The image asks viewers to find a reason why each of four mathematical graphs does not belong, using a provided list of calculus terms. The four graphs are arranged in a square grid. The top-left shows a periodic cosine wave oscillating between positive and negative one. The top-right shows a standard upward-opening parabola with its vertex at the origin. The bottom-left shows a rational function with a vertical asymptote at the y-axis, where both sides of the curve approach positive infinity. The bottom-right shows a cubic curve that passes through the origin and increases from the third quadrant to the first. To the left of the graphs, a list of suggested vocabulary includes Domain and Range, Continuous and Discontinuous, Differentiable, Increasing and Decreasing, Concave Up and Concave Down, and Point of Inflection.

This "Which One Doesn't Belong" warm-up question generated some rich student discussions today in Calculus class. The word bank was helpful in nudging them to include curve sketching terms in their justifications. #ITeachMath #MathSky #WODB

[New Post] Ontario Math Links - My favourite #math related links from this week:

ontariomath.blogspot.com/2026/04/math...

links and help from @davidkbutler.bsky.social @howiehua.bsky.social @edutopia.org @math-problems.bsky.social and more #MathChat #MTBoS #iTeachMath

Heading out to NYC for an event for MoMath in their brand new space! I'll be guiding people though some fun geometry at @momath.bsky.social 's Family Friday event. bookzoompa.wordpress.com/2026/04/09/a...

A Problem Squared • A podcast on Spotify for Creators Matt Parker and Bec Hill present: A Problem Squared. A podcast dedicated to solving problems of all kinds, such as, "What should I listen to right now?". A Podcast Squared. First one's free. You're w...

I like A Problem Squared. A fun podast where the hosts, Matt Parker and Bec Hill, solve fun problems from the world outside the classroom using math in creative ways. creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

fractions of circle in squares.

Messing around with fractions for a #mathart project.

🎉 The votes are in!

More than 1,100 educators cast their votes in our Activity Builder Spotlight Contest.

✨ Explore these top-ranked lessons in your classroom: go.amplify.com/4sMQ3qP.

Attending in person? There’s still time to register! Visit mcis.oame.on.ca

#letstalkmath

I gave my calculus students a roller coaster project to practice continuity and differentiability. It was a good learning experience for both me and my students. Planning on some revisions for next year. #ITeachMath #MathsToday pbbmath.weebly.com/blog/the-rol...

A 4 by 4 square drawn on a grid with the instructions "Draw another square with an area twice as large."

A simple task, but one of my favourites.

How do you see it?

New Puzzle: Daily Desmos #8 Bullseye
Can you recreate this? ->
dailydesmos.com/home/daily-d...

Planning to attend OAME2026 in person? There’s still time to register! Visit mcis.oame.on.ca
#LetsTalkMath

OAME2026 is excited to announce you can now register for our virtual conference in MCIS! mcis.oame.on.ca
Visit www.oame2026.ca for more info. #OAMElearns #Edchat #Letstalkmath.

The two shapes that make up the design are a quarter circle and a semicircle. The blue angles are the two marked with solidly coloured sectors. The orange angle is the one marked with an arc and a question mark.

The two blue angles are equal. What’s the size of the orange angle?

A team of four students working on a math question.

Hard at work solving math problems.

Had a great time at Game #3 of the Nova Scotia High School Math League competition. 18 teams from 7 different schools competed at Saint Mary's University in Halifax. #HRCEmath #ITeachMath