Analysing Alternative Approaches - November 2011, Stage 1&2

This month, we invite you to consider a variety of ways of approaching the tasks, and encourage you to reflect on the merits of different routes to solutions.

Problems

Lots of Lollies

Stage: 1 Challenge Level:

Frances and Rishi were given a bag of lollies. They shared them out evenly and had one left over. How many lollies could there have been in the bag?

Number Round Up

Stage: 1 Challenge Level:

Arrange the numbers 1 to 6 in each set of circles below. The sum of each side of the triangle should equal the number in its centre.

How Tall?

Stage: 1 and 2 Challenge Level:

A group of children are discussing the height of a tall tree. How would you go about finding out its height?

Eye View

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Why does the tower look a different size in each of these pictures?

Forgot the Numbers

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

On my calculator I divided one whole number by another whole number and got the answer 3.125 If the numbers are both under 50, what are they?

Fitted

Stage: 2 Challenge Level:

Nine squares with side lengths 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 18 cm can be fitted together to form a rectangle. What are the dimensions of the rectangle?

Featured Solution

Class 5's Names

This was a complex challenge to solve with a number of parts to it.

Go to last month's problems to see more solutions.

Articles & Games

Improving Reasoning: Analysing Alternative Approaches

In this article, Malcolm Swan describes a teaching approach designed to improve the quality of students' reasoning.

A New Challenge

In this article for teachers, Bernard gives some background about the theme for November 2011's primary activities, which focus on analysing different approaches.