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Shape Times Shape

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

The coloured shapes stand for eleven of the numbers from 0 to 12. Each shape is a different number.

Can you work out what they are from the multiplications below?  

multiplications using shapes

This sheet contains a copy of the task and leaves space for recording.

This activity originally featured in the hands-on Brain Buster Maths Boxes, developed by members of the NRICH Team and produced by BEAM. These resources are out of print but can still be found on Amazon. 

Click here for a poster of this problem.


The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.