Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
If you split the square into these two pieces, it is possible to fit the pieces together again to make a new shape. How many new shapes can you make?
What is the best way to shunt these carriages so that each train can continue its journey?
10 space travellers are waiting to board their spaceships. There are two rows of seats in the waiting room. Using the rules, where are they all sitting? Can you find all the possible ways?
Can you shunt the trucks so that the Cattle truck and the Sheep truck change places and the Engine is back on the main line?
Take a rectangle of paper and fold it in half, and half again, to make four smaller rectangles. How many different ways can you fold it up?
Use the three triangles to fill these outline shapes. Perhaps you can create some of your own shapes for a friend to fill?
A game for two players. You'll need some counters.
If you can post the triangle with either the blue or yellow colour face up, how many ways can it be posted altogether?
This article for teachers describes how modelling number properties involving multiplication using an array of objects not only allows children to represent their thinking with concrete materials,. . . .
Hover your mouse over the counters to see which ones will be removed. Click to remover them. The winner is the last one to remove a counter. How you can make sure you win?
Swap the stars with the moons, using only knights' moves (as on a chess board). What is the smallest number of moves possible?
Building up a simple Celtic knot. Try the interactivity or download the cards or have a go on squared paper.
Take it in turns to place a domino on the grid. One to be placed horizontally and the other vertically. Can you make it impossible for your opponent to play?
Can you see why 2 by 2 could be 5? Can you predict what 2 by 10 will be?
What happens when you try and fit the triomino pieces into these two grids?
Exchange the positions of the two sets of counters in the least possible number of moves
We start with one yellow cube and build around it to make a 3x3x3 cube with red cubes. Then we build around that red cube with blue cubes and so on. How many cubes of each colour have we used?
Investigate the number of paths you can take from one vertex to another in these 3D shapes. Is it possible to take an odd number and an even number of paths to the same vertex?
How can the same pieces of the tangram make this bowl before and after it was chipped? Use the interactivity to try and work out what is going on!
This challenge involves eight three-cube models made from interlocking cubes. Investigate different ways of putting the models together then compare your constructions.
In each of the pictures the invitation is for you to: Count what you see. Identify how you think the pattern would continue.
Move just three of the circles so that the triangle faces in the opposite direction.
A toy has a regular tetrahedron, a cube and a base with triangular and square hollows. If you fit a shape into the correct hollow a bell rings. How many times does the bell ring in a complete game?
Can you cover the camel with these pieces?
Can you make a 3x3 cube with these shapes made from small cubes?
A variant on the game Alquerque
What does the overlap of these two shapes look like? Try picturing it in your head and then use the interactivity to test your prediction.
What happens to the area of a square if you double the length of the sides? Try the same thing with rectangles, diamonds and other shapes. How do the four smaller ones fit into the larger one?
Imagine a wheel with different markings painted on it at regular intervals. Can you predict the colour of the 18th mark? The 100th mark?
A game for two players on a large squared space.
Can you predict when you'll be clapping and when you'll be clicking if you start this rhythm? How about when a friend begins a new rhythm at the same time?
One face of a regular tetrahedron is painted blue and each of the remaining faces are painted using one of the colours red, green or yellow. How many different possibilities are there?
Find your way through the grid starting at 2 and following these operations. What number do you end on?
Can you find ways of joining cubes together so that 28 faces are visible?
In how many ways can you fit two of these yellow triangles together? Can you predict the number of ways two blue triangles can be fitted together?
Imagine a pyramid which is built in square layers of small cubes. If we number the cubes from the top, starting with 1, can you picture which cubes are directly below this first cube?
How many different cuboids can you make when you use four CDs or DVDs? How about using five, then six?
Make one big triangle so the numbers that touch on the small triangles add to 10. You could use the interactivity to help you.
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the candle and sundial?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of Mai Ling and Chi Wing?
A game for 2 players. Given a board of dots in a grid pattern, players take turns drawing a line by connecting 2 adjacent dots. Your goal is to complete more squares than your opponent.
What is the total area of the four outside triangles which are outlined in red in this arrangement of squares inside each other?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Ming and Little Fung dancing?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the workmen?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the watering can and man in a boat?
How many different ways can you find of fitting five hexagons together? How will you know you have found all the ways?
Paint a stripe on a cardboard roll. Can you predict what will happen when it is rolled across a sheet of paper?
This practical problem challenges you to make quadrilaterals with a loop of string. You'll need some friends to help!
You have been given three shapes made out of sponge: a sphere, a cylinder and a cone. Your challenge is to find out how to cut them to make different shapes for printing.
Reasoning about the number of matches needed to build squares that share their sides.