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Exploring Wild & Wonderful Number Patterns

EWWNP means Exploring Wild and Wonderful Number Patterns Created by Yourself! Investigate what happens if we create number patterns using some simple rules.

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I'm Eight

Find a great variety of ways of asking questions which make 8.

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Dice and Spinner Numbers

If you had any number of ordinary dice, what are the possible ways of making their totals 6? What would the product of the dice be each time?

Penta Post

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Why do this problem?

This activity is a good everyday example of the use of addition and multiplication. It also helps pupils see the use of arithmetic in practical situations.

Possible approach

Start off a general discuss about posting to see what they know about posting letters and cards. When they are happy to talk about stamps present them with the challenge. You may prefer to update the charges and adapt the challenge to suit the current pricing system.

Key questions

Tell me how you have worked this out.

Possible extension

Pupils could invent their own question based upon the present-day costs of postage.

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.