Working systematically

  • Plates of Biscuits
    problem

    Plates of Biscuits

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Can you rearrange the biscuits on the plates so that the three biscuits on each plate are all different and there is no plate with two biscuits the same as two biscuits on another plate?
  • A-magical number maze
    problem

    A-Magical Number Maze

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    This magic square has operations written in it, to make it into a maze. Start wherever you like, go through every cell and go out a total of 15!
  • Home Time
    problem

    Home Time

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Alice's mum needs to go to each child's house just once and then back home again. How many different routes are there? Use the information to find out how long each road is on the route she took.
  • Seven Pots of Plants
    problem

    Seven Pots of Plants

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    There are seven pots of plants in a greenhouse. They have lost their labels. Perhaps you can help re-label them.
  • A Square Deal
    problem

    A Square Deal

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Complete the magic square using the numbers 1 to 25 once each. Each row, column and diagonal adds up to 65.
  • Eight queens
    problem

    Eight Queens

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Place eight queens on an chessboard (an 8 by 8 grid) so that none can capture any of the others.

  • Elf Suits
    problem

    Elf Suits

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    If these elves wear a different outfit every day for as many days as possible, how many days can their fun last?
  • The Pied Piper of Hamelin
    problem

    The Pied Piper of Hamelin

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    This problem is based on the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Investigate the different numbers of people and rats there could have been if you know how many legs there are altogether!

  • Adding Plus
    problem

    Adding Plus

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Can you put plus signs in so this is true? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 = 99 How many ways can you do it?

  • All seated
    problem

    All Seated

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

    Look carefully at the numbers. What do you notice? Can you make another square using the numbers 1 to 16, that displays the same properties?