Working systematically

problem
Halloween investigation

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Ana and Ross looked in a trunk in the attic. They found old cloaks and gowns, hats and masks. How many possible costumes could they make?
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
Let's investigate triangles

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

Vincent and Tara are making triangles with the class construction set. They have a pile of strips of different lengths. How many different triangles can they make?
problem
Maze 100

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Can you go through this maze so that the numbers you pass add to exactly 100?
problem
Making cuboids

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Let's say you can only use two different lengths - 2 units and 4 units. Using just these 2 lengths as the edges how many different cuboids can you make?
problem
Round and round the circle

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

What happens if you join every second point on this circle? How about every third point? Try with different steps and see if you can predict what will happen.
problem
Counting on letters

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

The letters of the word ABACUS have been arranged in the shape of a triangle. How many different ways can you find to read the word ABACUS from this triangular pattern?
problem
Bean bags for Bernard's bag

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

How could you put eight beanbags in the hoops so that there are four in the blue hoop, five in the red and six in the yellow? Can you find all the ways of doing this?
problem
It's all about 64

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Write the numbers up to 64 in an interesting way so that the shape they make at the end is interesting, different, more exciting ... than just a square.
problem
Ice cream

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

You cannot choose a selection of ice cream flavours that includes totally what someone has already chosen. Have a go and find all the different ways in which seven children can have ice cream.