Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
The idea of this game is to add or subtract the two numbers on the dice and cover the result on the grid, trying to get a line of three. Are there some numbers that are good to aim for?
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.
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 game for 2 or more people, based on the traditional card game Rummy. Players aim to make two `tricks', where each trick has to consist of a picture of a shape, a name that describes that shape, and. . . .
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.
Here is a solitaire type environment for you to experiment with. Which targets can you reach?
Slide the pieces to move Khun Phaen past all the guards into the position on the right from which he can escape to freedom.
A game for 2 players
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.
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.
The game of go has a simple mechanism. This discussion of the principle of two eyes in go has shown that the game does not depend on equally clear-cut concepts.
A game for 2 players. Given an arrangement of matchsticks, players take it is turns to remove a matchstick, along with all of the matchsticks that touch it.
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 Sudoku with clues given as sums of entries.
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
There are nasty versions of this dice game but we'll start with the nice ones...
This article, the second in the series, looks at some different types of games and the sort of mathematical thinking they can develop.
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.
A game in which players take it in turns to try to draw quadrilaterals (or triangles) with particular properties. Is it possible to fill the game grid?
This article supplies teachers with information that may be useful in better understanding the nature of games and their role in teaching and learning mathematics.
A simple game for 2 players invented by John Conway. It is played on a 3x3 square board with 9 counters that are black on one side and white on the other.
Can you be the first to complete a row of three?
A game for 1 person to play on screen. Practise your number bonds whilst improving your memory
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. . . .
Collect as many diamonds as you can by drawing three straight lines.
A Sudoku with clues as ratios.
A game to make and play based on the number line.
This pair of linked Sudokus matches letters with numbers and hides a seasonal greeting. Can you find it?
This sudoku requires you to have "double vision" - two Sudoku's for the price of one
Practise your diamond mining skills and your x,y coordination in this homage to Pacman.
Basic strategy games are particularly suitable as starting points for investigations. Players instinctively try to discover a winning strategy, and usually the best way to do this is to analyse. . . .
A Sudoku with a twist.
An article for teachers and pupils that encourages you to look at the mathematical properties of similar games.
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. . . .
This article explains the use of the idea of connectedness in networks, in two different ways, to bring into focus the basics of the game of Go, namely capture and territory.
A simple game of patience which often comes out. Can you explain why?
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.
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.
Follow-up to the February Game Rules of FEMTO.
Solve this Sudoku puzzle whose clues are in the form of sums of the numbers which should appear in diagonal opposite cells.
Can you discover whether this is a fair game?
A game for 2 players. Set out 16 counters in rows of 1,3,5 and 7. Players take turns to remove any number of counters from a row. The player left with the last counter looses.
An activity based on the game 'Pelmanism'. Set your own level of challenge and beat your own previous best score.
This article shows how abstract thinking and a little number theory throw light on the scoring in the game Go.
This second Sudoku article discusses "Corresponding Sudokus" which are pairs of Sudokus with terms that can be matched using a substitution rule.
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 collection of games on the NIM theme
Investigations based on an Indian game.
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?