Addition and subtraction

  • Book Codes
    problem

    Book codes

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    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?
  • Sam's Quick Sum
    problem

    Sam's quick sum

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    What is the sum of all the three digit whole numbers?
  • As Easy as 1,2,3
    problem

    As easy as 1,2,3

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    When I type a sequence of letters my calculator gives the product of all the numbers in the corresponding memories. What numbers should I store so that when I type 'ONE' it returns 1, and when I type 'TWO' it returns 2, and so on.
  • Alphabet Soup
    problem

    Alphabet soup

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    This challenge is to make up YOUR OWN alphanumeric. Each letter represents a digit and where the same letter appears more than once it must represent the same digit each time.
  • Score
    problem

    Score

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    There are exactly 3 ways to add 4 odd numbers to get 10. Find all the ways of adding 8 odd numbers to get 20. To be sure of getting all the solutions you will need to be systematic. What about a total of 15 with 6 odd numbers?
  • The 24 Game
    problem

    The 24 game

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    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?
  • Let's Face It
    problem

    Let's face it

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    In this problem you have to place four by four magic squares on the faces of a cube so that along each edge of the cube the numbers match.
  • Eight Dominoes
    problem

    Eight dominoes

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Using the 8 dominoes make a square where each of the columns and rows adds up to 8
  • The Patent Solution
    problem

    The patent solution

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    A combination mechanism for a safe comprises thirty-two tumblers numbered from one to thirty-two in such a way that the numbers in each wheel total 132... Could you open the safe?
  • Two Egg Timers
    problem

    Two egg timers

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    You have two egg timers. One takes 4 minutes exactly to empty and the other takes 7 minutes. What times in whole minutes can you measure and how?