Three children are going to buy some plants for their birthdays. They will plant them within circular paths. How could they do this?
Use the number weights to find different ways of balancing the equaliser.
Two children made up a game as they walked along the garden paths. Can you find out their scores? Can you find some paths of your own?
If you are a teacher, click here for a version of the problem suitable for classroom use, together with supporting materials. Otherwise, read on ...
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 the centre of the triangular shape.
Once you've had a chance to think about it, click below to see how three different pupils began working on the task.
Dan said:
"I used counters which had $1$ to $6$ on them.
I put the counters in a triangle in any old way, then I added up the sides.
Then I moved the counters around to try and get the right total on each side."
Emma said:
"I noticed that three of the numbers are odd ($1, 3$ and $5$) and three of the numbers are even ($2, 4$ and $6$). I thought this might help.
I know that $9$ is an odd number so it can be made using odd + odd + odd or using even + even + odd."
Farah said:
"If I want a small total on each side, I'll need small numbers in the corners of the triangle."
Can you take each of these starting ideas and develop it into a solution?
A practical version of this activity is included in the Year 3/4 Brain Buster Maths Box which contains hands-on challenges developed by members of NRICH and produced by BEAM. For more details and ordering information, please scroll down this page .