Working systematically

problem

Painting possibilities

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

This task, written for the National Young Mathematicians' Award 2016, involves open-topped boxes made with interlocking cubes. Explore the number of units of paint that are needed to cover the boxes and the small cubes that would fit inside each one.
problem

Open squares

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

This task, written for the National Young Mathematicians' Award 2016, focuses on 'open squares'. What would the next five open squares look like?
problem

Calcunos

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

If we had 16 light bars which digital numbers could we make? How will you know you've found them all?
problem

Making squares

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Investigate all the different squares you can make on this 5 by 5 grid by making your starting side go from the bottom left hand point. Can you find out the areas of all these squares?
problem

Ice cream

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

In the café, your ice cream selection can't include a combination that someone else has chosen. What could these seven children have chosen?
problem

Penta place

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Penta people, the Pentominoes, always build their houses from five square rooms. I wonder how many different Penta homes you can create?
problem

On target

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

You have 5 darts and your target score is 44. How many different ways could you score 44?
problem

Family tree

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Use the clues to find out who's who in the family, to fill in the family tree and to find out which of the family members are mathematicians and which are not.
problem

Palindromic date

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

What is the date in February 2002 where the 8 digits are palindromic if the date is written in the British way?
problem

Difference

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Place the numbers 1 to 10 in the circles so that each number is the difference between the two numbers just below it.