Working systematically

problem
Chocolate

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

There are three tables in a room with blocks of chocolate on each. Where would be the best place for each child in the class to sit if they came in one at a time?
problem
Tea cups

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

Place the 16 different combinations of cup/saucer in this 4 by 4 arrangement so that no row or column contains more than one cup or saucer of the same colour.
problem
Consecutive numbers

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

An investigation involving adding and subtracting sets of consecutive numbers. Lots to find out, lots to explore.
problem
Dienes' logiblocs

Age

5 to 7

Challenge level

This problem focuses on Dienes' Logiblocs. What is the same and what is different about these pairs of shapes? Can you describe the shapes in the picture?
problem
Prompt cards

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

These two group activities use mathematical reasoning - one is numerical, one geometric.
problem
Cereal packets

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

How can you put five cereal packets together to make different shapes if you must put them face-to-face?
problem
Multilink cubes

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

If you had 36 cubes, what different cuboids could you make?
problem
Geoboards

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

This practical challenge invites you to investigate the different squares you can make on a square geoboard or pegboard.
page
NRICH starter problem selection

On this page we give a selection of good starter activities for those new to NRICH
page
Integrated sums Sudoku

The puzzle can be solved with the help of small clue-numbers which are either placed on the border lines between selected pairs of neighbouring squares of the grid or placed after slash marks on the intersections between two diagonally adjacent squares.