Filter by: Content type: ALL Problems Articles Games Stage: All Stage 1&2 Stage 2&3 Stage 3&4 Stage 4&5 Challenge level:
Place the numbers from 1 to 9 in the squares below so that the difference between joined squares is odd. How many different ways can you do this?
Can you see why 2 by 2 could be 5? Can you predict what 2 by 10 will be?
Find out what a "fault-free" rectangle is and try to make some of your own.
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.
Try entering different sets of numbers in the number pyramids. How does the total at the top change?
Many numbers can be expressed as the sum of two or more consecutive integers. For example, 15=7+8 and 10=1+2+3+4. Can you say which numbers can be expressed in this way?
Can you work out how to win this game of Nim? Does it matter if you go first or second?
Only one side of a two-slice toaster is working. What is the quickest way to toast both sides of three slices of bread?
Can you dissect an equilateral triangle into 6 smaller ones? What number of smaller equilateral triangles is it NOT possible to dissect a larger equilateral triangle into?
How many ways can you find to do up all four buttons on my coat? How about if I had five buttons? Six ...?
Tom and Ben visited Numberland. Use the maps to work out the number of points each of their routes scores.
Charlie has made a Magic V. Can you use his example to make some more? And how about Magic Ls, Ns and Ws?
Consider all two digit numbers (10, 11, . . . ,99). In writing down all these numbers, which digits occur least often, and which occur most often ? What about three digit numbers, four digit numbers. . . .
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.
Can you find sets of sloping lines that enclose a square?
How many moves does it take to swap over some red and blue frogs? Do you have a method?
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.
Take a look at the multiplication square. The first eleven triangle numbers have been identified. Can you see a pattern? Does the pattern continue?
Can you explain how this card trick works?
Think of a number, add one, double it, take away 3, add the number you first thought of, add 7, divide by 3 and take away the number you first thought of. You should now be left with 2. How do I. . . .
This challenge asks you to imagine a snake coiling on itself.
In each of the pictures the invitation is for you to: Count what you see. Identify how you think the pattern would continue.
Can you find the values at the vertices when you know the values on the edges?
Investigate the sum of the numbers on the top and bottom faces of a line of three dice. What do you notice?
Do you notice anything about the solutions when you add and/or subtract consecutive negative numbers?
An investigation that gives you the opportunity to make and justify predictions.
How could Penny, Tom and Matthew work out how many chocolates there are in different sized boxes?
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.
A package contains a set of resources designed to develop pupils’ mathematical thinking. This package places a particular emphasis on “generalising” and is designed to meet the. . . .
Use the interactivity to investigate what kinds of triangles can be drawn on peg boards with different numbers of pegs.
In this problem we are looking at sets of parallel sticks that cross each other. What is the least number of crossings you can make? And the greatest?
Sweets are given out to party-goers in a particular way. Investigate the total number of sweets received by people sitting in different positions.
Delight your friends with this cunning trick! Can you explain how it works?
Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.
Triangle numbers can be represented by a triangular array of squares. What do you notice about the sum of identical triangle numbers?
Watch this film carefully. Can you find a general rule for explaining when the dot will be this same distance from the horizontal axis?
Find the sum of all three-digit numbers each of whose digits is odd.
Start with two numbers. This is the start of a sequence. The next number is the average of the last two numbers. Continue the sequence. What will happen if you carry on for ever?
The number of plants in Mr McGregor's magic potting shed increases overnight. He'd like to put the same number of plants in each of his gardens, planting one garden each day. How can he do it?
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?
For this challenge, you'll need to play Got It! Can you explain the strategy for winning this game with any target?
We can arrange dots in a similar way to the 5 on a dice and they usually sit quite well into a rectangular shape. How many altogether in this 3 by 5? What happens for other sizes?
Try adding together the dates of all the days in one week. Now multiply the first date by 7 and add 21. Can you explain what happens?
What happens if you join every second point on this circle? How about every third point? Try with different steps and see if you can predict what will happen.
The NRICH team are always looking for new ways to engage teachers and pupils in problem solving. Here we explain the thinking behind maths trails.
Compare the numbers of particular tiles in one or all of these three designs, inspired by the floor tiles of a church in Cambridge.
Can you continue this pattern of triangles and begin to predict how many sticks are used for each new "layer"?
It's easy to work out the areas of most squares that we meet, but what if they were tilted?
A collection of games on the NIM theme