Other tags that relate to Dicey Directions
Generalising. Working systematically. Addition & subtraction. Selecting and using information. Creating and manipulating expressions and formulae. Visualising. Mathematical reasoning & proof. Games. Interactivities. Cubes & cuboids.There are 130 results
Broad Topics > Thinking Mathematically > Working systematically
One Out One Under
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Imagine a stack of numbered cards with one on top. Discard the top, put the next card to the bottom and repeat continuously. Can you predict the last card?
Colour in the Square
Age 7 to 16 Challenge Level:
Can you put the 25 coloured tiles into the 5 x 5 square so that no column, no row and no diagonal line have tiles of the same colour in them?
Maths Trails
Age 7 to 14
The NRICH team are always looking for new ways to engage teachers and pupils in problem solving. Here we explain the thinking behind maths trails.
Sticky Numbers
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Can you arrange the numbers 1 to 17 in a row so that each adjacent pair adds up to a square number?
Quadruple Clue Sudoku
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Four numbers on an intersection that need to be placed in the surrounding cells. That is all you need to know to solve this sudoku.
Addition Equation Sudoku
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
You need to find the values of the stars before you can apply normal Sudoku rules.
Colour Islands Sudoku
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
An extra constraint means this Sudoku requires you to think in diagonals as well as horizontal and vertical lines and boxes of nine.
Number Daisy
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Can you find six numbers to go in the Daisy from which you can make all the numbers from 1 to a number bigger than 25?
Consecutive Negative Numbers
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Do you notice anything about the solutions when you add and/or subtract consecutive negative numbers?
Another Quadruple Clue Sudoku
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
This is a variation of sudoku which contains a set of special clue-numbers. Each set of 4 small digits stands for the numbers in the four cells of the grid adjacent to this set.
Triangles to Tetrahedra
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Imagine you have an unlimited number of four types of triangle. How many different tetrahedra can you make?
Simultaneous Equations Sudoku
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Solve the equations to identify the clue numbers in this Sudoku problem.
9 Weights
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
You have been given nine weights, one of which is slightly heavier than the rest. Can you work out which weight is heavier in just two weighings of the balance?
Games Related to Nim
Age 5 to 16
This article for teachers describes several games, found on the site, all of which have a related structure that can be used to develop the skills of strategic planning.
The Great Weights Puzzle
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
You have twelve weights, one of which is different from the rest. Using just 3 weighings, can you identify which weight is the odd one out, and whether it is heavier or lighter than the rest?
Window Frames
Age 5 to 14 Challenge Level:
This task encourages you to investigate the number of edging pieces and panes in different sized windows.
Magic W
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Find all the ways of placing the numbers 1 to 9 on a W shape, with 3 numbers on each leg, so that each set of 3 numbers has the same total.
Quadruple Sudoku
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Four small numbers give the clue to the contents of the four surrounding cells.
Constellation Sudoku
Age 14 to 18 Challenge Level:
Special clue numbers related to the difference between numbers in two adjacent cells and values of the stars in the "constellation" make this a doubly interesting problem.
Advent Sudoku
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Rather than using the numbers 1-9, this sudoku uses the nine different letters used to make the words "Advent Calendar".
Pole Star Sudoku 2
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
This Sudoku, based on differences. Using the one clue number can you find the solution?
Smith and Jones
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
Mr Smith and Mr Jones are two maths teachers. By asking questions, the answers to which may be right or wrong, Mr Jones is able to find the number of the house Mr Smith lives in... Or not!
Weights
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Different combinations of the weights available allow you to make different totals. Which totals can you make?
Seasonal Twin Sudokus
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
This pair of linked Sudokus matches letters with numbers and hides a seasonal greeting. Can you find it?
Magnetic Personality
Age 7 to 16 Challenge Level:
60 pieces and a challenge. What can you make and how many of the pieces can you use creating skeleton polyhedra?
Cuboids
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Can you find a cuboid that has a surface area of exactly 100 square units. Is there more than one? Can you find them all?
Twin Corresponding Sudokus II
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Two sudokus in one. Challenge yourself to make the necessary connections.
Extra Challenges from Madras
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
A few extra challenges set by some young NRICH members.
Spot the Card
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
It is possible to identify a particular card out of a pack of 15 with the use of some mathematical reasoning. What is this reasoning and can it be applied to other numbers of cards?
Oranges and Lemons, Say the Bells of St Clement's
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
Bellringers have a special way to write down the patterns they ring. Learn about these patterns and draw some of your own.
LOGO Challenge - Triangles-squares-stars
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
Can you recreate these designs? What are the basic units? What movement is required between each unit? Some elegant use of procedures will help - variables not essential.
Counting on Letters
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
The letters of the word ABACUS have been arranged in the shape of a triangle. How many different ways can you find to read the word ABACUS from this triangular pattern?
Integrated Sums Sudoku
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
The puzzle can be solved with the help of small clue-numbers which are either placed on the border lines between selected pairs of neighbouring squares of the grid or placed after slash marks on. . . .
Wallpaper Sudoku
Age 11 to 16 Challenge Level:
A Sudoku that uses transformations as supporting clues.
An Introduction to Magic Squares
Age 7 to 16
Find out about Magic Squares in this article written for students. Why are they magic?!
More on Mazes
Age 7 to 14
There is a long tradition of creating mazes throughout history and across the world. This article gives details of mazes you can visit and those that you can tackle on paper.
Tea Cups
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Place the 16 different combinations of cup/saucer in this 4 by 4 arrangement so that no row or column contains more than one cup or saucer of the same colour.
More Magic Potting Sheds
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
The number of plants in Mr McGregor's magic potting shed increases overnight. He'd like to put the same number of plants in each of his gardens, planting one garden each day. How can he do it?
Number Sandwiches
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
Can you arrange the digits 1, 1, 2, 2, 3 and 3 to make a Number Sandwich?
Tetrahedra Tester
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
An irregular tetrahedron is composed of four different triangles. Can such a tetrahedron be constructed where the side lengths are 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 units of length?
Latin Lilies
Age 7 to 16 Challenge Level:
Have a go at this game which has been inspired by the Big Internet Math-Off 2019. Can you gain more columns of lily pads than your opponent?
Warmsnug Double Glazing
Age 14 to 16 Challenge Level:
How have "Warmsnug" arrived at the prices shown on their windows? Which window has been given an incorrect price?
Inky Cube
Age 7 to 14 Challenge Level:
This cube has ink on each face which leaves marks on paper as it is rolled. Can you work out what is on each face and the route it has taken?
The Naked Pair in Sudoku
Age 7 to 16
A particular technique for solving Sudoku puzzles, known as "naked pair", is explained in this easy-to-read article.
Squares in Rectangles
Age 11 to 14 Challenge Level:
A 2 by 3 rectangle contains 8 squares and a 3 by 4 rectangle contains 20 squares. What size rectangle(s) contain(s) exactly 100 squares? Can you find them all?
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.