Combinations

problem
Calcunos

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

If we had 16 light bars which digital numbers could we make? How will you know you've found them all?
problem
Newspapers

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

When newspaper pages get separated at home we have to try to sort them out and get things in the correct order. How many ways can we arrange these pages so that the numbering may be different?
problem
Little boxes

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

How many different cuboids can you make when you use four CDs or DVDs? How about using five, then six?
problem
3 rings

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

If you have three circular objects, you could arrange them so that they are separate, touching, overlapping or inside each other. Can you investigate all the different possibilities?
problem
Homes

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Six new homes are being built! They can be detached, semi-detached or terraced houses. How many different combinations of these can you find?
problem
Plants

Age

5 to 14

Challenge level

Three children are going to buy some plants for their birthdays. They will plant them within circular paths. How could they do this?
problem
Tiles on a patio

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

How many ways can you find of tiling the square patio, using square tiles of different sizes?
problem
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.
problem
Cereal packets

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

How can you put five cereal packets together to make different shapes if you must put them face-to-face?
problem
Multilink cubes

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

If you had 36 cubes, what different cuboids could you make?