List

Is there a better way?

The tasks in this feature can be solved in a whole variety of ways and we hope that this will make you curious about different routes to a solution.  

When you hear about other people's ways of approaching a problem and try to understand it, your 'toolkit' of methods will be added to, so you will have more to choose from in the future. We hope that giving you the chance to reflect on your problem solving will help you become a more resilient problem solver.

Two flowers with the numbers 15 and 16 on them
problem
Favourite

Butterfly flowers

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Can you find two butterflies to go on each flower so that the numbers on each pair of butterflies adds to the number on their flower?

Gathering Gems
problem

Gathering gems

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Using compass points, can you describe up to ten paths on this map so that you bring as many gems back home as possible?
3 blocks towers
problem

Three block towers

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Take three differently coloured blocks - maybe red, yellow and blue. Make a tower using one of each colour. How many different towers can you make?
The Tall Tower
problem
Favourite

The tall tower

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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As you come down the ladders of the Tall Tower you collect useful spells. Which way should you go to collect the most spells?
Fruity Totals
problem
Favourite

Fruity totals

Age
7 to 16
Challenge level
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In this interactivity each fruit has a hidden value. Can you deduce what each one is worth?

In the Money
problem

In the money

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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One quarter of these coins are heads but when I turn over two coins, one third are heads. How many coins are there?

Two Primes Make One Square
problem
Favourite

Two primes make one square

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you make square numbers by adding two prime numbers together?
Different Deductions
problem
Favourite

Different deductions

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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There are lots of different methods to find out what the shapes are worth - how many can you find?