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'Eight Queens' printed from https://nrich.maths.org/

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Why do this problem?

This problem involves logical thinking and spatial awareness. You could also focus on working systematically if you encouraged children to find all the possible solutions.

Key questions

Where could you put the first queen?
Where could the next queen go? And the next ...?
Have you checked that each queen cannot capture any of the others?

Possible extension

Children could investigate how the size of the grid affects the problem.

Possible support

Drawing or printing off this grid and using counters will help children try out their ideas.