Working systematically

  • Spot the Card
    problem

    Spot the Card

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    1 out of 3
    It is possible to identify a particular card out of a pack of 15 with the use of some mathematical reasoning. What is this reasoning and can it be applied to other numbers of cards?
  • Patchwork Quilt
    problem

    Patchwork Quilt

    Age
    7 to 14
    Challenge level
    1 out of 3
    Squares of the type shown are sewn together to make a quilt. How many different quilts can be made?
  • Magnetic personality
    problem

    Magnetic Personality

    Age
    7 to 16
    Challenge level
    1 out of 3
    60 pieces and a challenge. What can you make and how many of the pieces can you use creating skeleton polyhedra?
  • Cereal Packets
    problem

    Cereal Packets

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    How can you put five cereal packets together to make different shapes if you must put them face-to-face?
  • How old are the children?
    problem

    How Old Are the Children?

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    A student in a maths class was trying to get some information from her teacher. She was given some clues and then the teacher ended by saying, "Well, how old are they?"
  • Ones Only
    problem

    Ones Only

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    Find the smallest whole number which, when mutiplied by 7, gives a product consisting entirely of ones.
  • Read This Page
    problem

    Read This Page

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    Replace the letters with numbers to make the addition work out correctly. R E A D + T H I S = P A G E
  • Spell by Numbers
    problem

    Spell by Numbers

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    Can you substitute numbers for the letters in these sums?
  • Code Breaker
    problem

    Code Breaker

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    This problem is based on a code using two different prime numbers less than 10. You'll need to multiply them together and shift the alphabet forwards by the result. Can you decipher the code?
  • Bell Ringing
    problem

    Bell Ringing

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    Suppose you are a bellringer. Can you find the changes so that, starting and ending with a round, all the 24 possible permutations are rung once each and only once?