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Primary live problems and recent solutions

Usually, we invite students to send us their solutions to a selection of problems, but this December and January we are doing things a little differently…

The problems below contain interactivities which offer students instant feedback, and we think they are particularly suitable to work on at home, perhaps with a family member, during the holiday period. We hope you enjoy the challenges we’ve selected.

Live problems

  • The Number Jumbler
    problem
    Favourite

    The Number Jumbler

    Age
    7 to 14
    Challenge level
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    The Number Jumbler can always work out your chosen symbol. Can you work out how?

  • Poly Plug Rectangles
    problem
    Favourite

    Poly plug rectangles

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    The computer has made a rectangle and will tell you the number of spots it uses in total. Can you find out where the rectangle is?

  • Seeing Squares
    problem
    Favourite

    Seeing squares

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.

Take a look at these recently solved problems.

Recently solved problems

  • Take three numbers
    problem
    Favourite

    Take three numbers

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    What happens when you add three numbers together? Will your answer be odd or even? How do you know?

  • Holes
    problem
    Favourite

    Holes

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    I've made some cubes and some cubes with holes in. This challenge invites you to explore the difference in the number of small cubes I've used. Can you see any patterns?

  • Lots of Lollies
    problem
    Favourite

    Lots of lollies

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    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?

  • Round the Three Dice
    problem
    Favourite

    Round the three dice

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    What happens when you round these three-digit numbers to the nearest 100?