Introducing algebra

problem
Cherry buns

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Sam's grandmother has an old recipe for cherry buns. She has enough mixture to put 45 grams in each of 12 paper cake cases. What was the weight of one egg?
problem
Up and down staircases

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

One block is needed to make an up-and-down staircase, with one step up and one step down. How many blocks would be needed to build an up-and-down staircase with 5 steps up and 5 steps down?
problem
Carrying cards

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

These sixteen children are standing in four lines of four, one behind the other. They are each holding a card with a number on it. Can you work out the missing numbers?
problem
Two number lines

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Max and Mandy put their number lines together to make a graph. How far had each of them moved along and up from 0 to get the counter to the place marked?
problem
Shape times shape

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

These eleven shapes each stand for a different number. Can you use the number sentences to work out what they are?
problem
Price match

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Can you find pairs of differently sized windows that cost the same?
problem
Counting counters

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Take a counter and surround it by a ring of other counters that MUST touch two others. How many are needed?
problem
How many eggs?

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Peter, Melanie, Amil and Jack received a total of 38 chocolate eggs. Use the information to work out how many eggs each person had.
problem
Augustus' age

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

In 1871 a mathematician called Augustus De Morgan died. De Morgan made a puzzling statement about his age. Can you discover which year De Morgan was born in?
problem
Buckets of thinking

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

There are three buckets each of which holds a maximum of 5 litres. Use the clues to work out how much liquid there is in each bucket.