Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
This article invites you to get familiar with a strategic game called "sprouts". The game is simple enough for younger children to understand, and has also provided experienced mathematicians with. . . .
Some puzzles requiring no knowledge of knot theory, just a careful inspection of the patterns. A glimpse of the classification of knots and a little about prime knots, crossing numbers and. . . .
Can you discover whether this is a fair game?
An article for teachers and pupils that encourages you to look at the mathematical properties of similar games.
This article for teachers describes several games, found on the site, all of which have a related structure that can be used to develop the skills of strategic planning.
A collection of games on the NIM theme
A game for 2 players with similaritlies to NIM. Place one counter on each spot on the games board. Players take it is turns to remove 1 or 2 adjacent counters. The winner picks up the last counter.
The aim of the game is to slide the green square from the top right hand corner to the bottom left hand corner in the least number of moves.
Start with any number of counters in any number of piles. 2 players take it in turns to remove any number of counters from a single pile. The winner is the player to take the last counter.
A game for 2 players that can be played online. Players take it in turns to select a word from the 9 words given. The aim is to select all the occurrences of the same letter.
A Sudoku with a twist.
Four numbers on an intersection that need to be placed in the surrounding cells. That is all you need to know to solve this sudoku.
Match the cards of the same value.
A Sudoku with clues as ratios.
Match pairs of cards so that they have equivalent ratios.
Help the bee to build a stack of blocks far enough to save his friend trapped in the tower.
Given the products of diagonally opposite cells - can you complete this Sudoku?
Can you identify the mathematicians?
Here is a solitaire type environment for you to experiment with. Which targets can you reach?
Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.
A game for two people, or play online. Given a target number, say 23, and a range of numbers to choose from, say 1-4, players take it in turns to add to the running total to hit their target.
Slide the pieces to move Khun Phaen past all the guards into the position on the right from which he can escape to freedom.
Can you beat the computer in the challenging strategy game?
This pair of linked Sudokus matches letters with numbers and hides a seasonal greeting. Can you find it?
Can you be the first to complete a row of three?
Solve this Sudoku puzzle whose clues are in the form of sums of the numbers which should appear in diagonal opposite cells.
A Sudoku that uses transformations as supporting clues.
A Sudoku with clues as ratios or fractions.
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
A game for 2 people. Take turns joining two dots, until your opponent is unable to move.
Advent Calendar 2010 - a mathematical game for every day during the run-up to Christmas.
Can you work out how to win this game of Nim? Does it matter if you go first or second?
This sudoku requires you to have "double vision" - two Sudoku's for the price of one
The computer starts with all the lights off, but then clicks 3, 4 or 5 times at random, leaving some lights on. Can you switch them off again?
A Sudoku with clues given as sums of entries.
A game for 2 people. Take turns to move the counters 1, 2 or 3 spaces. The player to remove the last counter off the board wins.
A game for 2 players. Can be played online. One player has 1 red counter, the other has 4 blue. The red counter needs to reach the other side, and the blue needs to trap the red.
This second Sudoku article discusses "Corresponding Sudokus" which are pairs of Sudokus with terms that can be matched using a substitution rule.
Can you beat Piggy in this simple dice game? Can you figure out Piggy's strategy, and is there a better one?
This is a game for two players. You will need some small-square grid paper, a die and two felt-tip pens or highlighters. Players take turns to roll the die, then move that number of squares in. . . .
A game for 1 or 2 people. Use the interactive version, or play with friends. Try to round up as many counters as possible.
Unmultiply is a game of quick estimation. You need to find two numbers that multiply together to something close to the given target - fast! 10 levels with a high scores table.
The game uses a 3x3 square board. 2 players take turns to play, either placing a red on an empty square, or changing a red to orange, or orange to green. The player who forms 3 of 1 colour in a line. . . .
All you need for this game is a pack of cards. While you play the game, think about strategies that will increase your chances of winning.
Here are a collection of games from around the world to try during the holidays or the last few weeks of term.
A game to make and play based on the number line.
A game for 1 person to develop stategy and shape and space awareness. 12 counters are placed on a board. Counters are removed one at a time. The aim is to be left with only 1 counter.