Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Try entering different sets of numbers in the number pyramids. How does the total at the top change?
Delight your friends with this cunning trick! Can you explain how it works?
Do you notice anything about the solutions when you add and/or subtract consecutive negative numbers?
Four bags contain a large number of 1s, 3s, 5s and 7s. Pick any ten numbers from the bags above so that their total is 37.
Can you explain how this card trick works?
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.
Arrange the numbers 1 to 16 into a 4 by 4 array. Choose a number. Cross out the numbers on the same row and column. Repeat this process. Add up you four numbers. Why do they always add up to 34?
Crosses can be drawn on number grids of various sizes. What do you notice when you add opposite ends?
How many solutions can you find to this sum? Each of the different letters stands for a different number.
Is it possible to rearrange the numbers 1,2......12 around a clock face in such a way that every two numbers in adjacent positions differ by any of 3, 4 or 5 hours?
Different combinations of the weights available allow you to make different totals. Which totals can you make?
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?
Can you find six numbers to go in the Daisy from which you can make all the numbers from 1 to a number bigger than 25?
For this challenge, you'll need to play Got It! Can you explain the strategy for winning this game with any target?
This article explains how to make your own magic square to mark a special occasion with the special date of your choice on the top line.
Here is a chance to play a version of the classic Countdown Game.
Replace each letter with a digit to make this addition correct.
In the following sum the letters A, B, C, D, E and F stand for six distinct digits. Find all the ways of replacing the letters with digits so that the arithmetic is correct.
This addition sum uses all ten digits 0, 1, 2...9 exactly once. Find the sum and show that the one you give is the only possibility.
Use the numbers in the box below to make the base of a top-heavy pyramid whose top number is 200.
Three dice are placed in a row. Find a way to turn each one so that the three numbers on top of the dice total the same as the three numbers on the front of the dice. Can you find all the ways to. . . .
Choose any three by three square of dates on a calendar page. Circle any number on the top row, put a line through the other numbers that are in the same row and column as your circled number. Repeat. . . .
This article gives you a few ideas for understanding the Got It! game and how you might find a winning strategy.
This article suggests some ways of making sense of calculations involving positive and negative numbers.
What are the missing numbers in the pyramids?
This Sudoku, based on differences. Using the one clue number can you find the solution?
Special clue numbers related to the difference between numbers in two adjacent cells and values of the stars in the "constellation" make this a doubly interesting problem.
Can you be the first to complete a row of three?
Find the values of the nine letters in the sum: FOOT + BALL = GAME
Five numbers added together in pairs produce: 0, 2, 4, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15 What are the five numbers?
This challenge extends the Plants investigation so now four or more children are involved.
Find out about Magic Squares in this article written for students. Why are they magic?!
The letters in the following addition sum represent the digits 1 ... 9. If A=3 and D=2, what number is represented by "CAYLEY"?
If you take a three by three square on a 1-10 addition square and multiply the diagonally opposite numbers together, what is the difference between these products. Why?
This challenging activity involves finding different ways to distribute fifteen items among four sets, when the sets must include three, four, five and six items.
Make your own double-sided magic square. But can you complete both sides once you've made the pieces?
There are nasty versions of this dice game but we'll start with the nice ones...
An account of some magic squares and their properties and and how to construct them for yourself.
How can we help students make sense of addition and subtraction of negative numbers?
The country Sixtania prints postage stamps with only three values 6 lucres, 10 lucres and 15 lucres (where the currency is in lucres).Which values cannot be made up with combinations of these postage. . . .
If you wrote all the possible four digit numbers made by using each of the digits 2, 4, 5, 7 once, what would they add up to?
You have four jugs of 9, 7, 4 and 2 litres capacity. The 9 litre jug is full of wine, the others are empty. Can you divide the wine into three equal quantities?
Find the numbers in this sum
The sum of the first 'n' natural numbers is a 3 digit number in which all the digits are the same. How many numbers have been summed?
In this game the winner is the first to complete a row of three. Are some squares easier to land on than others?
Here is a chance to play a fractions version of the classic Countdown Game.
Find a great variety of ways of asking questions which make 8.
Whenever two chameleons of different colours meet they change colour to the third colour. Describe the shortest sequence of meetings in which all the chameleons change to green if you start with 12. . . .
Can you arrange the digits 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 into three 3-digit numbers such that their total is close to 1500?
This challenge is to make up YOUR OWN alphanumeric. Each letter represents a digit and where the same letter appears more than once it must represent the same digit each time.