Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Can you put the numbers 1 to 8 into the circles so that the four calculations are correct?
This magic square has operations written in it, to make it into a maze. Start wherever you like, go through every cell and go out a total of 15!
Cherri, Saxon, Mel and Paul are friends. They are all different ages. Can you find out the age of each friend using the information?
Choose a symbol to put into the number sentence.
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?
There are 44 people coming to a dinner party. There are 15 square tables that seat 4 people. Find a way to seat the 44 people using all 15 tables, with no empty places.
This problem is based on the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Investigate the different numbers of people and rats there could have been if you know how many legs there are altogether!
Can you arrange 5 different digits (from 0 - 9) in the cross in the way described?
The Man is much smaller than us. Can you use the picture of him next to a mug to estimate his height and how much tea he drinks?
Zumf makes spectacles for the residents of the planet Zargon, who have either 3 eyes or 4 eyes. How many lenses will Zumf need to make all the different orders for 9 families?
Using the statements, can you work out how many of each type of rabbit there are in these pens?
Can you see why 2 by 2 could be 5? Can you predict what 2 by 10 will be?
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,. . . .
Use the information about Sally and her brother to find out how many children there are in the Brown family.
Can you fill in this table square? The numbers 2 -12 were used to generate it with just one number used twice.
Ahmed is making rods using different numbers of cubes. Which rod is twice the length of his first rod?
This problem is based on a code using two different prime numbers less than 10. You'll need to multiply them together and shift the alphabet forwards by the result. Can you decipher the code?
Find the product of the numbers on the routes from A to B. Which route has the smallest product? Which the largest?
Katie had a pack of 20 cards numbered from 1 to 20. She arranged the cards into 6 unequal piles where each pile added to the same total. What was the total and how could this be done?
Use your logical-thinking skills to deduce how much Dan's crisps and ice-cream cost altogether.
Start by putting one million (1 000 000) into the display of your calculator. Can you reduce this to 7 using just the 7 key and add, subtract, multiply, divide and equals as many times as you like?
In a Magic Square all the rows, columns and diagonals add to the 'Magic Constant'. How would you change the magic constant of this square?
Can you find which shapes you need to put into the grid to make the totals at the end of each row and the bottom of each column?
What do you notice about the date 03.06.09? Or 08.01.09? This challenge invites you to investigate some interesting dates yourself.
These eleven shapes each stand for a different number. Can you use the multiplication sums to work out what they are?
Suppose we allow ourselves to use three numbers less than 10 and multiply them together. How many different products can you find? How do you know you've got them all?
Can you each work out the number on your card? What do you notice? How could you sort the cards?
A group of children are using measuring cylinders but they lose the labels. Can you help relabel them?
There were chews for 2p, mini eggs for 3p, Chocko bars for 5p and lollypops for 7p in the sweet shop. What could each of the children buy with their money?
Put operations signs between the numbers 3 4 5 6 to make the highest possible number and lowest possible number.
This group activity will encourage you to share calculation strategies and to think about which strategy might be the most efficient.
Can you complete this jigsaw of the multiplication square?
Use this grid to shade the numbers in the way described. Which numbers do you have left? Do you know what they are called?
What happens when you add the digits of a number then multiply the result by 2 and you keep doing this? You could try for different numbers and different rules.
Explore Alex's number plumber. What questions would you like to ask? What do you think is happening to the numbers?
Can you work out how many flowers there will be on the Amazing Splitting Plant after it has been growing for six weeks?
Tom and Ben visited Numberland. Use the maps to work out the number of points each of their routes scores.
What is happening at each box in these machines?
Claire thinks she has the most sports cards in her album. "I have 12 pages with 2 cards on each page", says Claire. Ross counts his cards. "No! I have 3 cards on each of my pages and there are. . . .
This multiplication uses each of the digits 0 - 9 once and once only. Using the information given, can you replace the stars in the calculation with figures?
Here are the prices for 1st and 2nd class mail within the UK. You have an unlimited number of each of these stamps. Which stamps would you need to post a parcel weighing 825g?
If the numbers 5, 7 and 4 go into this function machine, what numbers will come out?
Find at least one way to put in some operation signs (+ - x ÷) to make these digits come to 100.
Can you design a new shape for the twenty-eight squares and arrange the numbers in a logical way? What patterns do you notice?
Amy has a box containing domino pieces but she does not think it is a complete set. She has 24 dominoes in her box and there are 125 spots on them altogether. Which of her domino pieces are missing?
This number has 903 digits. What is the sum of all 903 digits?
At the beginning of May Tom put his tomato plant outside. On the same day he sowed a bean in another pot. When will the two be the same height?
Go through the maze, collecting and losing your money as you go. Which route gives you the highest return? And the lowest?
Twizzle, a female giraffe, needs transporting to another zoo. Which route will give the fastest journey?
Can you work out the arrangement of the digits in the square so that the given products are correct? The numbers 1 - 9 may be used once and once only.