Curriculum

Topics we teach — and have taught

These pages summarise how Exact Science structures olympiad-style mathematics and programming: the core ideas, worked theory, and problem sets we have used in classes over the years. Many topics now also have interactive practice on Problems.cc.

Browse interactive lessons

Mathematics

Olympiad techniques, number theory, combinatorics, and the habits of deliberate problem-solving.

Primary

MathematicsPrimaryInteractive lesson

Magic Square

This is a ‘magic’ square.Can you see what properties it has?All row totals, all column totals, two diagonal totals are all the same!Moreover, no number should be repeated.

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MathematicsPrimaryInteractive lesson

Arithmetic Operations (Primary)

Math is more than numbers — it's about patterns, logic, and a little bit of creative play. This collection of arithmetic and bracket puzzles is designed to challenge young minds while keeping problem solving fun and engaging. From inserting the right operations between digits to rearranging numbers with clever use of brackets and basic arithmetic, these puzzles promote flexible thinking, mental calculation, and deeper mathematical understanding.

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MathematicsPrimary

Combinatorics (Primary)

What is combinatorics? Combinatorics is the branch of mathematics that deals with counting — not just by listing, but by using smart rules and patterns to calculate the number of ways something can happen. We’ll explore questions like: • How many different outcomes are possible when making choices? • What’s the difference between arrangements (where order matters) and selections (where it doesn’t)? • How can we use multiplication, permutations, and combinations to solve these problems?

MathematicsPrimary

How many shapes?

Can you spot all the squares, rectangles, and triangles in these diagrams? These classic visual puzzles help develop spatial reasoning, geometry skills, and attention to detail. Perfect for primary students preparing for Maths Olympiads or challenges like the UKMT. Great for classroom warm-ups, enrichment activities, or home learning.

MathematicsPrimaryInteractive lesson

Patterns

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MathematicsPrimary

Symmetry

Junior

MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Ages

It is convenient to solve these problems through an equation. The main thing to remember is that the age difference always remains the same.‍

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MathematicsJunior

Parity

You, of course, know that there are even and odd numbers.Even numbers are those that are divisible by 2 without a remainder (for example, 2, 4, 6, etc.). Each such number can be written as 2K by choosing a suitable integer K (for example, 4 = 2 x 2, 6 = 2 x 3, etc.).Odd numbers are those that, when divided by 2, leave a remainder of 1 (for example, 1, 3, 5, etc.). Each such number can be written as 2K + 1 by choosing a suitable integer K (for example, 3 = 2 x 1 + 1, 5 = 2 x 2 + 1, etc.).Even and odd numbers have remarkable properties:a) the sum of two even numbers is even;b) the sum of two odd numbers is even;c) the sum of even and odd numbers is odd number.

MathematicsJunior

Worst Case Scenario

MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Racing

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Sums and averages

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Equations

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MathematicsJunior

Pigeonhole principle

Pigeonhole Principle (Dirichlet's principle) is a simple, intuitive, and often useful method for proving statements about a finite set. This principle is often used in discrete mathematics, where it establishes a connection between objects (“rabbits”) and containers (“cells”) when certain conditions are met.‍

MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Productivity

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Divisibility

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Strategies in Games

In the realm of game theory, a player's strategy refers to the choices they make within a context where the best possible result is influenced not solely by their individual decisions but also by the decisions made by others. The field primarily focuses on how a player's moves within a game can impact and influence the behavior and choices of other participants.

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

River Crossing Riddles

What is a river crossing puzzle? It is a type of puzzle in which the object is to carry items from one river bank to another, usually in the fewest trips. The difficulty of the puzzle may arise from restrictions on which or how many items can be transported at the same time, or which or how many items may be safely left together.

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Olympiad BIDMAS

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MathematicsJunior

Weighing Puzzles

A balance puzzle or weighing puzzle is a logic puzzle about balancing items—often coins—to determine which holds a different value, by using balance scales a limited number of times. These differ from puzzles that assign weights to items, in that only the relative mass of these items is relevant.

MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Water Pouring Puzzles

Water pouring puzzles (also called water jug problems, decanting problems, measuring puzzles, or Die Hard with a Vengeance puzzles) are a class of puzzle involving a finite collection of water jugs of known integer capacities (in terms of a liquid measure such as liters or gallons). Initially each jug contains a known integer volume of liquid, not necessarily equal to its capacity.

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Knights and Liars

There are two types of inhabitants on the Island of Knights and Liars. Knights always tell the truth. Liars always lie.

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Base Numbers Problems

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MathematicsJunior

Exponents (Last Digit)

Explore deep-thinking maths problems involving last digits, powers, prime numbers, and digit tricks. Perfect for ages 11–16 and ideal for UKMT, AMC, and GCSE enrichment. Includes Olympiad-style theory with modular arithmetic, Diophantine equations, and factorial analysis.

MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Matchsticks

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Paths

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Patterns in Numbers and Digits

Problems on periodicity. Spot patterns in them!

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MathematicsJuniorInteractive lesson

Ratio

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Intermediate

MathematicsIntermediateInteractive lesson

Mathematics in Chess

A mathematical chess problem is a mathematical problem which is formulated using a chessboard and chess pieces. These problems belong to recreational mathematics. The most well-known problems of this kind are the eight queens puzzle and the knight's tour problem, which have connection to graph theory and combinatorics. Many famous mathematicians studied mathematical chess problems, such as, Thabit, Euler, Legendre and Gauss. Besides finding a solution to a particular problem, mathematicians are usually interested in counting the total number of possible solutions, finding solutions with certain properties, as well as generalization of the problems to N×N or M×N boards.‍‍

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MathematicsIntermediateInteractive lesson

AM–GM Inequalities

The Arithmetic–Geometric Mean Inequality:If a ≥ 0, b ≥ 0, then(a + b)/2 ≥ √(ab) ≥ b.Equality holds if and only if a = b.‍

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MathematicsIntermediate

GCD and LCM

In this lesson, we will work with the concepts of the greatest common divisor (GCD) and least common multiple (LCM), as well as related problem-solving techniques. The GCD of two numbers is the largest number that divides both of them without a remainder. The LCM of two numbers is the smallest number that is a multiple of both.

MathematicsIntermediate

Number Theory

MathematicsIntermediate

Remainders of Squares and Cubes

MathematicsIntermediate

Triangle Inequality

In this lesson, we will use an important result known as the Triangle Inequality:|x| + |y| ≥ |x + y|