Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
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?
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?
What is the best way to shunt these carriages so that each train can continue its journey?
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?
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!
Can you make a 3x3 cube with these shapes made from small cubes?
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?
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?
How many different cuboids can you make when you use four CDs or DVDs? How about using five, then six?
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?
This challenge involves eight three-cube models made from interlocking cubes. Investigate different ways of putting the models together then compare your constructions.
A magician took a suit of thirteen cards and held them in his hand face down. Every card he revealed had the same value as the one he had just finished spelling. How did this work?
Can you find ways of joining cubes together so that 28 faces are visible?
Exploring and predicting folding, cutting and punching holes and making spirals.
Think of a number, square it and subtract your starting number. Is the number you’re left with odd or even? How do the images help to explain this?
What is the total area of the four outside triangles which are outlined in red in this arrangement of squares inside each other?
Reasoning about the number of matches needed to build squares that share their sides.
Make a cube out of straws and have a go at this practical challenge.
Which of the following cubes can be made from these nets?
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?
What shape has Harry drawn on this clock face? Can you find its area? What is the largest number of square tiles that could cover this area?
A dog is looking for a good place to bury his bone. Can you work out where he started and ended in each case? What possible routes could he have taken?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the lobster, yacht and cyclist?
Use the lines on this figure to show how the square can be divided into 2 halves, 3 thirds, 6 sixths and 9 ninths.
On which of these shapes can you trace a path along all of its edges, without going over any edge twice?
How many DIFFERENT quadrilaterals can be made by joining the dots on the 8-point circle?
Building up a simple Celtic knot. Try the interactivity or download the cards or have a go on squared paper.
How many different triangles can you make on a circular pegboard that has nine pegs?
In each of the pictures the invitation is for you to: Count what you see. Identify how you think the pattern would continue.
Looking at the picture of this Jomista Mat, can you decribe what you see? Why not try and make one yourself?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this telephone?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Ming playing the board game?
An extension of noughts and crosses in which the grid is enlarged and the length of the winning line can to altered to 3, 4 or 5.
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of the chairs?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this shape. How would you describe it?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of the child walking home from school?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outlines of these people?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Little Fung at the table?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this brazier for roasting chestnuts?
Where can you put the mirror across the square so that you can still "see" the whole square? How many different positions are possible?
Can you arrange the shapes in a chain so that each one shares a face (or faces) that are the same shape as the one that follows it?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of the rocket?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this plaque design?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of these rabbits?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of this junk?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of these convex shapes?
Billy's class had a robot called Fred who could draw with chalk held underneath him. What shapes did the pupils make Fred draw?
These points all mark the vertices (corners) of ten hidden squares. Can you find the 10 hidden squares?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of the telescope and microscope?
Can you fit the tangram pieces into the outline of Wai Ping, Wah Ming and Chi Wing?