Break It Up!
In how many different ways can you break up a stick of seven interlocking cubes? Now try with a stick of eight cubes and a stick of six cubes. What do you notice?
This is part of our collection of favourite rich tasks arranged by topic.
If you are a teacher, you can find the whole collection on our Primary Curriculum teacher page.
Alternatively, if you are a student, you'll find the same problems on our Primary Curriculum student page.
In how many different ways can you break up a stick of seven interlocking cubes? Now try with a stick of eight cubes and a stick of six cubes. What do you notice?
Watch the video of this game being played. Can you work out the rules? Which dice totals are good to get, and why?
Place the numbers from 1 to 9 in the squares so that the difference between joined squares is odd.
This problem is designed to help children to learn, and to use, the two and three times tables.
We can arrange dots in a similar way to the 5 on a dice. What do you notice?
The planet of Vuvv has seven moons. Can you work out how long it is between each super-eclipse?
Working in a group, use the cards to gather all the information you need to organise the school trip.
After training hard, these two children have improved their results. Can you work out the length or height of their first jumps?
Are these statements always true, sometimes true or never true?
You'll need to know your number properties to win a game of Statement Snap...
Investigate the different shaped bracelets you could make from 18 different spherical beads. How do they compare if you use 24 beads?
Put operations signs between the numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6. What answers can you make?
Abundant numbers are less than the sum of their factors (excluding themselves). Can you find some?
Norrie sees two lights flash at the same time. How many times do they flash together during a whole minute?
Can you work out the arrangement of the digits in the square so that the given products are correct? The numbers 1 - 9 may be used once and once only.
Which is quicker, counting up to 30 in ones or counting up to 300 in tens? Why?
Can you replace the letters with numbers? Is there only one solution in each case?
Think of a number, square it and subtract your starting number. Is the number you're left with odd or even? How do the images help to explain this?
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?
Do you agree with Badger's statements? Is Badger's reasoning 'watertight'? Why or why not?
In this game, you can add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers on the dice. Which will you choose?
Investigate the sum of the numbers on the top and bottom faces of a line of three dice. What do you notice?
Can you complete this calculation by filling in the missing numbers?
Can you work out some different ways to balance this equation?
Have a go at balancing this equation. Can you find different ways of doing it?
This challenge encourages you to explore dividing a three-digit number by a single-digit number.
Can you find any two-digit numbers that satisfy all of these statements?
Can you match these calculation methods to their visual representations?
Can you put these four calculations into order of difficulty? How did you decide?
Zias have 3 legs and Zepts have 7 legs. If there were 52 legs, how many of each were there?
A Deca Tree has 10 trunks, and on each trunk are 10 branches, and on each branch are 10 twigs...
These rows of children are holding cards with numbers on them. Can you work out the missing numbers?
Can you complete this jigsaw of the multiplication square?
These eleven shapes each stand for a different number. Can you use the number sentences to work out what they are?
You have two sets of the digits 0-9. Can you arrange these in the five boxes to make four-digit numbers as close to the target numbers as possible?
In this activity, the computer chooses a times table and shifts it. Can you work out the table and the shift each time?
Look at different ways of dividing things. What do they mean? How might you show them in a picture, with things, with numbers and symbols?
Here is an interesting property about two sets of digits. Can you work out what the digits might be?
Can you put the numbers 1 to 8 into the circles so that the four calculations are correct?
Can you find out where all the numbers on this clock face are using the ten statements?
Can you predict when you'll be clapping and when you'll be clicking if you start this rhythm? How about when a friend begins a new rhythm at the same time?
This big box multiplies anything that goes inside it by the same number. If you know the numbers that come out, what multiplication might be going on in the box?
Which of these clues are needed to find the number? Which clues aren't helpful?
Can you put the numbers 1-5 in the V shape so that both 'arms' have the same total?
This group activity will encourage you to compare different calculation strategies.
What happens when you add the digits of a number then multiply the result by 2?