The Scot, John Napier, invented these strips about 400 years ago to help calculate multiplication and division. Can you work out how to use Napier's bones to find the answer to these multiplications?
Peter, Melanie, Amil and Jack received a total of 38 chocolate eggs. Use the information to work out how many eggs each person had.
There are over sixty different ways of making 24 by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing all four numbers 4, 6, 6 and 8 (using each number only once). How many can you find?
There are three buckets each of which holds a maximum of 5 litres. Use the clues to work out how much liquid there is in each bucket.
Katie had a pack of 20 cards numbered from 1 to 20. She arranged the cards into 6 unequal piles where each pile added to the same total. What was the total and how could this be done?
What is the lowest number which always leaves a remainder of 1 when divided by each of the numbers from 2 to 10?
Mr McGregor has a magic potting shed. Overnight, the number of plants in it doubles. He'd like to put the same number of plants in each of three gardens, planting one garden each day. Can he do it?
Use the information to work out how many gifts there are in each pile.
Find out what a Deca Tree is and then work out how many leaves there will be after the woodcutter has cut off a trunk, a branch, a twig and a leaf.
The clockmaker's wife cut up his birthday cake to look like a clock face. Can you work out who received each piece?
56 406 is the product of two consecutive numbers. What are these two numbers?
On the table there is a pile of oranges and lemons that weighs exactly one kilogram. Using the information, can you work out how many lemons there are?
Can you score 100 by throwing rings on this board? Is there more than way to do it?
This magic square has operations written in it, to make it into a maze. Start wherever you like, go through every cell and go out a total of 15!
Four Go game for an adult and child. Will you be the first to have four numbers in a row on the number line?
A game for 2 people using a pack of cards Turn over 2 cards and try to make an odd number or a multiple of 3.
A game for 2 people. Use your skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to blast the asteroids.
Rocco ran in a 200 m race for his class. Use the information to find out how many runners there were in the race and what Rocco's finishing position was.
If the numbers 5, 7 and 4 go into this function machine, what numbers will come out?
Use your logical reasoning to work out how many cows and how many sheep there are in each field.
Using the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 once and only once, and the operations x and ÷ once and only once, what is the smallest whole number you can make?
Try adding together the dates of all the days in one week. Now multiply the first date by 7 and add 21. Can you explain what happens?
In a Magic Square all the rows, columns and diagonals add to the 'Magic Constant'. How would you change the magic constant of this square?
The value of the circle changes in each of the following problems. Can you discover its value in each problem?
Ben’s class were cutting up number tracks. First they cut them into twos and added up the numbers on each piece. What patterns could they see?
Zumf makes spectacles for the residents of the planet Zargon, who have either 3 eyes or 4 eyes. How many lenses will Zumf need to make all the different orders for 9 families?
This task combines spatial awareness with addition and multiplication.
Can you arrange 5 different digits (from 0 - 9) in the cross in the way described?
Can you see why 2 by 2 could be 5? Can you predict what 2 by 10 will be?
This problem is based on the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Investigate the different numbers of people and rats there could have been if you know how many legs there are altogether!
Here are the prices for 1st and 2nd class mail within the UK. You have an unlimited number of each of these stamps. Which stamps would you need to post a parcel weighing 825g?
We can arrange dots in a similar way to the 5 on a dice and they usually sit quite well into a rectangular shape. How many altogether in this 3 by 5? What happens for other sizes?
Work out Tom's number from the answers he gives his friend. He will only answer 'yes' or 'no'.
All the girls would like a puzzle each for Christmas and all the boys would like a book each. Solve the riddle to find out how many puzzles and books Santa left.
Where can you draw a line on a clock face so that the numbers on both sides have the same total?
This challenge combines addition, multiplication, perseverance and even proof.
Use your logical-thinking skills to deduce how much Dan's crisps and ice-cream cost altogether.
Look on the back of any modern book and you will find an ISBN code. Take this code and calculate this sum in the way shown. Can you see what the answers always have in common?
This number has 903 digits. What is the sum of all 903 digits?
Using the statements, can you work out how many of each type of rabbit there are in these pens?
Can you find which shapes you need to put into the grid to make the totals at the end of each row and the bottom of each column?
Here is a chance to play a version of the classic Countdown Game.
On a calculator, make 15 by using only the 2 key and any of the four operations keys. How many ways can you find to do it?
What do you notice about the date 03.06.09? Or 08.01.09? This challenge invites you to investigate some interesting dates yourself.
Cherri, Saxon, Mel and Paul are friends. They are all different ages. Can you find out the age of each friend using the information?
A 3 digit number is multiplied by a 2 digit number and the calculation is written out as shown with a digit in place of each of the *'s. Complete the whole multiplication sum.
A group of children are using measuring cylinders but they lose the labels. Can you help relabel them?
Annie cut this numbered cake into 3 pieces with 3 cuts so that the numbers on each piece added to the same total. Where were the cuts and what fraction of the whole cake was each piece?