Introducing algebra

  • problem

    The Brown family

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Use the information about Sally and her brother to find out how many children there are in the Brown family.

  • Break it up!
    problem

    Break it up!

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    In how many different ways can you break up a stick of seven interlocking cubes? Now try with a stick of eight cubes and a stick of six cubes. What do you notice?

  • Sweetie Box
    problem

    Sweetie box

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Max and Bryony both have a box of sweets. What do you know about the number of sweets they each have?
  • Doplication
    problem

    Doplication

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    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?

  • Cat Food
    problem

    Cat food

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Sam sets up displays of cat food in his shop in triangular stacks. If Felix buys some, then how can Sam arrange the remaining cans in triangular stacks?
  • Super Shapes
    problem

    Super shapes

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    The value of the circle changes in each of the following problems. Can you discover its value in each problem?

  • Plenty of Pens
    problem

    Plenty of pens

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Amy's mum gave her £2.50 to spend. She bought four times as many pens as pencils and was given 40p change. How many of each did she buy?

  • Sisters and Brothers
    problem

    Sisters and brothers

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Cassandra, David and Lachlan are brothers and sisters. They range in age between 1 year and 14 years. Can you figure out their exact ages from the clues?
  • Gift Stacks
    problem

    Gift stacks

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Use the information to work out how many gifts there are in each pile.
  • Trebling
    problem

    Trebling

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Can you replace the letters with numbers? Is there only one solution in each case?