Place value

  • Seven Up
    problem

    Seven up

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    The number 27 is special because it is three times the sum of its digits 27 = 3 (2 + 7). Find some two digit numbers that are SEVEN times the sum of their digits (seven-up numbers)?
  • Writ large
    problem

    Writ large

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    Suppose you had to begin the never ending task of writing out the natural numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.... and so on. What would be the 1000th digit you would write down.

  • Mini-max
    problem

    Mini-max

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Consider all two digit numbers (10, 11, . . . ,99). In writing down all these numbers, which digits occur least often, and which occur most often ? What about three digit numbers, four digit numbers and so on?
  • Plus Minus
    problem

    Plus minus

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    Can you explain the surprising results Jo found when she calculated the difference between square numbers?

  • Alphabet Soup
    problem

    Alphabet soup

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    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.
  • Lesser Digits
    problem

    Lesser digits

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    How many positive integers less than or equal to 4000 can be written down without using the digits 7, 8 or 9?
  • Building Up
    problem

    Not a polite question

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    When asked how old she was, the teacher replied: My age in years is not prime but odd and when reversed and added to my age you have a perfect square...

  • Legs Eleven
    problem

    Legs eleven

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    Take any four digit number. Move the first digit to the end and move the rest along. Now add your two numbers. Did you get a multiple of 11?

  • problem

    Big powers

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
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    Three people chose this as a favourite problem. It is the sort of problem that needs thinking time - but once the connection is made it gives access to many similar ideas.

  • Place value, integers, ordering and rounding - Short Problems
    problem

    Digit sum

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    What is the sum of all the digits in all the integers from one to one million?