Search by Topic

Filter by: Content type:
Age range:
Challenge level:

There are 24 results

Broad Topics > Information and Communications Technology > Calculators

Secret Number

Age 5 to 7 Challenge Level:

Annie and Ben are playing a game with a calculator. What was Annie's secret number?

Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:

If a sum invested gains 10% each year how long before it has doubled its value?

Four Go

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

This challenge is a game for two players. Choose two of the numbers to multiply or divide, then mark your answer on the number line. Can you get four in a row?

Round and Round and Round

Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:

Where will the point stop after it has turned through 30 000 degrees? I took out my calculator and typed 30 000 ÷ 360. How did this help?

Largest Product

Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:

Which set of numbers that add to 10 have the largest product?

Forgot the Numbers

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

On my calculator I divided one whole number by another whole number and got the answer 3.125. If the numbers are both under 50, what are they?

Climbing Powers

Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:

$2\wedge 3\wedge 4$ could be $(2^3)^4$ or $2^{(3^4)}$. Does it make any difference? For both definitions, which is bigger: $r\wedge r\wedge r\wedge r\dots$ where the powers of $r$ go on for ever, or. . . .

Rain or Shine

Age 16 to 18 Challenge Level:

Predict future weather using the probability that tomorrow is wet given today is wet and the probability that tomorrow is wet given that today is dry.

Four Go for Two

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

Four Go game for an adult and child. Will you be the first to have four numbers in a row on the number line?

Number Pattern Explorations

Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:

Investigate what happens if we create number patterns using some simple rules.

Mobile Numbers

Age 5 to 11 Challenge Level:

In this investigation, you are challenged to make mobile phone numbers which are easy to remember. What happens if you make a sequence adding 2 each time?

Decimal Time

Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:

Use the clocks to investigate French decimal time in this problem. Can you see how this time system worked?

One Million to Seven

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

Start by putting one million (1 000 000) into the display of your calculator. Can you reduce this to 7 using just the 7 key and add, subtract, multiply, divide and equals as many times as you like?

Age 5 to 16

Nowadays the calculator is very familiar to many of us. What did people do to save time working out more difficult problems before the calculator existed?

Calculating the Difference: A Discussion of the Use of Calculators in the English Primary Classroom.

Age 5 to 11

Clare Green looks at the role of the calculator in the teaching and learning of primary mathematics.

Reverse Trick

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

Tell your friends that you have a strange calculator that turns numbers backwards. What secret number do you have to enter to make 141 414 turn around?

A Conversation Piece

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

Take the number 6 469 693 230 and divide it by the first ten prime numbers and you'll find the most beautiful, most magic of all numbers. What is it?

Clever Keys

Age 7 to 11 Short Challenge Level:

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?

Special 24

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

Find another number that is one short of a square number and when you double it and add 1, the result is also a square number.

Book Codes

Age 7 to 11 Challenge Level:

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?

Triangle Incircle Iteration

Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:

Keep constructing triangles in the incircle of the previous triangle. What happens?

Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:

Make a set of numbers that use all the digits from 1 to 9, once and once only. Add them up. The result is divisible by 9. Add each of the digits in the new number. What is their sum? Now try some. . . .