These activities are part of our Primary collections, which are problems grouped by topic.
Multiplication square jigsaw
Multiplication squares
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.
What's in the box?
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?
Ordering cards
Factors and multiples game
A game in which players take it in turns to choose a number. Can you block your opponent?
Let us divide!
Dicey array
Watch the video of this game being played. Can you work out the rules? Which dice totals are good to get, and why?
Shape times shape
These eleven shapes each stand for a different number. Can you use the number sentences to work out what they are?
Multiply multiples 1
Multiply multiples 2
Sweets in a box
How many different shaped boxes can you design for 36 sweets in one layer? Can you arrange the sweets so that no sweets of the same colour are next to each other in any direction?
What do you need?
Multiply multiples 3
Highest and lowest
Which is quicker?
Three dice
Division rules
Zios and Zepts
On the planet Vuv there are two sorts of creatures. The Zios have 3 legs and the Zepts have 7 legs. The great planetary explorer Nico counted 52 legs. How many Zios and how many Zepts were there?
Trebling
Can you replace the letters with numbers? Is there only one solution in each case?
Times tables shifts
In this activity, the computer chooses a times table and shifts it. Can you work out the table and the shift each time?
Always, sometimes or never? Number
Are these statements always true, sometimes true or never true?
Abundant numbers
A square of numbers
How do you do it?
This group activity will encourage you to share calculation strategies and to think about which strategy might be the most efficient.
Picture your method
Odd squares
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?
Compare the calculations
Flashing lights
Up and down staircases
4 by 4 Mathdokus
Can you use the clues to complete these 4 by 4 Mathematical Sudokus?
The moons of Vuvv
The planet of Vuvv has seven moons. Can you work out how long it is between each super-eclipse?
Carrying cards
An easy way to multiply by 10?
Follow the numbers
What happens when you add the digits of a number then multiply the result by 2 and you keep doing this? You could try for different numbers and different rules.
Music to my ears
Journeys in Numberland
Tom and Ben visited Numberland. Use the maps to work out the number of points each of their routes scores.
All the digits
This multiplication uses each of the digits 0 - 9 once and once only. Using the information given, can you replace the stars in the calculation with figures?
Factor track
Factor lines
Factor-multiple chains
Two primes make one square
Four go
Cycling squares
Pebbles
Place four pebbles on the sand in the form of a square. Keep adding as few pebbles as necessary to double the area. How many extra pebbles are added each time?
Picture a pyramid
Imagine a pyramid which is built in square layers of small cubes. If we number the cubes from the top, starting with 1, can you picture which cubes are directly below this first cube?
Remainders
I'm thinking of a number. My number is both a multiple of 5 and a multiple of 6. What could my number be?
Round and round the circle
What happens if you join every second point on this circle? How about every third point? Try with different steps and see if you can predict what will happen.
Make 100
Table patterns go wild!
Counting cogs
Light the lights again
Each light in this interactivity turns on according to a rule. What happens when you enter different numbers? Can you find the smallest number that lights up all four lights?
Mystery matrix
Multiples grid
What do the numbers shaded in blue on this hundred square have in common? What do you notice about the pink numbers? How about the shaded numbers in the other squares?
One wasn't square
So it's times!
How will you decide which way of flipping over and/or turning the grid will give you the highest total?
Cubes within cubes
We start with one yellow cube and build around it to make a 3x3x3 cube with red cubes. Then we build around that red cube with blue cubes and so on. How many cubes of each colour have we used?
Four goodness sake
Use 4 four times with simple operations so that you get the answer 12. Can you make 15, 16 and 17 too?
Curious number
Can you order the digits from 1-3 to make a number which is divisible by 3 so when the last digit is removed it becomes a 2-figure number divisible by 2, and so on?