Search by Topic

There are 31 results

Broad Topics > Algebra > Introducing algebra

Your Number Was...

Stage: 3 Challenge Level:

Think of a number and follow my instructions. Tell me your answer, and I'll tell you what you started with! Can you explain how I know?

Crossed Ends

Stage: 3 Challenge Level:

Crosses can be drawn on number grids of various sizes. What do you notice when you add opposite ends?

Shape Times Shape

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

These eleven shapes each stand for a different number. Can you use the multiplication sums to work out what they are?

Getting the Balance

Stage: 1 Challenge Level:

If you hang two weights on one side of this balance, in how many different ways can you hang three weights on the other side for it to be balanced?

Number Lines

Stage: 1 Challenge Level:

Leah and Tom each have a number line. Can you work out where their counters will land? What are the secret jumps they make with their counters?

Secret Number

Stage: 1 Challenge Level:

Annie and Ben are playing a game with a calculator. What was Annie's secret number?

Your Number Is...

Stage: 3 Challenge Level:

Think of a number... follow the machine's instructions. I know what your number is! Can you explain how I know?

Up and Down Staircases

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

One block is needed to make an up-and-down staircase, with one step up and one step down. How many blocks would be needed to build an up-and-down staircase with 5 steps up and 5 steps down?

Special Numbers

Stage: 3 Challenge Level:

My two digit number is special because adding the sum of its digits to the product of its digits gives me my original number. What could my number be?

Trebling

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Can you replace the letters with numbers? Is there only one solution in each case?

The Brown Family

Stage: 1 Challenge Level:

Use the information about Sally and her brother to find out how many children there are in the Brown family.

Super Shapes

Stage: 2 Short Challenge Level:

The value of the circle changes in each of the following problems. Can you discover its value in each problem?

Perimeter Expressions

Stage: 3 Challenge Level:

Create some shapes by combining two or more rectangles. What can you say about the areas and perimeters of the shapes you can make?

Gran, How Old Are You?

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

When Charlie asked his grandmother how old she is, he didn't get a straightforward reply! Can you work out how old she is?

Table Patterns Go Wild!

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Nearly all of us have made table patterns on hundred squares, that is 10 by 10 grids. This problem looks at the patterns on differently sized square grids.

Balance of Halves

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Investigate this balance which is marked in halves. If you had a weight on the left-hand 7, where could you hang two weights on the right to make it balance?

Two Number Lines

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Max and Mandy put their number lines together to make a graph. How far had each of them moved along and up from 0 to get the counter to the place marked?

Geomlab

Stage: 3, 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

A geometry lab crafted in a functional programming language. Ported to Flash from the original java at web.comlab.ox.ac.uk/geomlab

First Forward Into Logo 8: More about Variables

Stage: 3, 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

Write a Logo program, putting in variables, and see the effect when you change the variables.

First Forward Into Logo 6: Variables and Procedures

Stage: 3, 4 and 5 Challenge Level:

Learn to write procedures and build them into Logo programs. Learn to use variables.

Carrying Cards

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

These sixteen children are standing in four lines of four, one behind the other. They are each holding a card with a number on it. Can you work out the missing numbers?

Break it Up!

Stage: 1 and 2 Challenge Level:

In how many different ways can you break up a stick of 7 interlocking cubes? Now try with a stick of 8 cubes and a stick of 6 cubes.

Cherry Buns

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Sam's grandmother has an old recipe for cherry buns. She has enough mixture to put 45 grams in each of 12 paper cake cases. What was the weight of one egg?

Gift Stacks

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Use the information to work out how many gifts there are in each pile.

Brothers and Sisters

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Cassandra, David and Lachlan are brothers and sisters. They range in age between 1 year and 14 years. Can you figure out their exact ages from the clues?

Buckets of Thinking

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

There are three buckets each of which holds a maximum of 5 litres. Use the clues to work out how much liquid there is in each bucket.

Plenty of Pens

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Amy's mum had given her £2.50 to spend. She bought four times as many pens as pencils and was given 40p change. How many of each did she buy?

How Many Eggs?

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Peter, Melanie, Amil and Jack received a total of 38 chocolate eggs. Use the information to work out how many eggs each person had.

Heads and Feet

Stage: 1 Challenge Level:

On a farm there were some hens and sheep. Altogether there were 8 heads and 22 feet. How many hens were there?

Cat Food

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Sam sets up displays of cat food in his shop in triangular stacks. If Felix buys some, then how can Sam arrange the remaining cans in triangular stacks?

Counting Counters

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Take a counter and surround it by a ring of other counters that MUST touch two others. How many are needed?