Mental calculations

  • 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?

  • Shapes on the Playground
    problem

    Shapes on the playground

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Sally and Ben were drawing shapes in chalk on the school playground. Can you work out what shapes each of them drew using the clues?

  • Is it Magic or is it Maths?
    problem

    Is it magic or is it maths?

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Here are three 'tricks' to amaze your friends. But the really clever trick is explaining to them why these 'tricks' are maths not magic. Like all good magicians, you should practice by trying them. Can you explain how they work?
  • Twenty Divided into Six
    problem

    Twenty divided into six

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Katie had a pack of 20 cards numbered from 1 to 20. She arranged the cards into 6 unequal piles where each pile added to the same total. What was the total and how could this be done?

  • Make 100
    problem

    Make 100

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Find at least one way to put in some operation signs to make these digits come to 100.

  • What's in a Name?
    problem

    What's in a name?

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    What do you notice about these squares of numbers? What is the same? What is different?

  • What is Ziffle?
    problem

    What is ziffle?

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Can you work out what a ziffle is on the planet Zargon?

  • Highest and Lowest
    problem

    Highest and lowest

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Put operations signs between the numbers 3 4 5 6 to make the highest possible number and lowest possible number.

  • Prime Magic
    problem

    Prime magic

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Place the numbers 1, 2, 3,..., 9 one on each square of a 3 by 3 grid so that all the rows and columns add up to a prime number. How many different solutions can you find?
  • Where can we visit?
    problem

    Where can we visit?

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Charlie and Abi put a counter on 42. They wondered if they could visit all the other numbers on their 1-100 board, moving the counter using just these two operations: x2 and -5. What do you think?