Constant counting
Problem
You can make a calculator count for you by pressing the keys
$1 + = = $
$1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12$
To make it count by twos, press $2 + = = $
$2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12$
You can make it count by any number you choose.
Now the question:
You can count by ones to reach $24$.
You can count by twos to reach $24$.
What else can you count by to reach $24$?
Getting Started
What else could you try?
How will you remember what you've found out?
Student Solutions
Skip counting or counting by the same number each time is ways to describe constant counting. This is what happens when you recite the multiplication tables. Work partners Joanne and Holly, and Steve and Matt from Moorefield Junior School, found that to reach 24 they could count by skipping 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 6s, 8s, 12s or 24s to reach 24, the target number. 24 is an answer in each one of those multiplication tables.
David, who is studying at De Aston School, gives us this example:
24 = 1 x 24
24 = 2 x 12
24 = 3 x 8
24 = 4 x 6
Several people did not mention counting by one or by two; perhaps they thought that was too obvious. Others found some of the different ways to skip count to reach 24 but did not list all of the possible ways.