Working with patterns

"Ip dip sky blue! Who's 'it'? It's you!" Where would you position yourself so that you are 'it' if there are two players? Three players ...?

Sweets are given out to party-goers in a particular way. Investigate the total number of sweets received by people sitting in different positions.

In this investigation we are going to count the number of 1s, 2s, 3s etc in numbers. Can you predict what will happen?

Exploring the structure of a number square: how quickly can you put the number tiles in the right place on the grid?

In how many different ways can you break up a stick of seven interlocking cubes? Now try with a stick of eight cubes and a stick of six cubes. What do you notice?

How many possible symmetrical necklaces can you find? How do you know you've found them all?

Can you put the numbers 1-5 in the V shape so that both 'arms' have the same total?

In this activity, the computer chooses a times table and shifts it. Can you work out the table and the shift each time?

Make new patterns from simple turning instructions. You can have a go using pencil and paper or with a floor robot.

What happens when you add the digits of a number then multiply the result by 2 and you keep doing this? You could try for different numbers and different rules.

How do you know if your set of dominoes is complete?

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

Investigate the different shaped bracelets you could make from 18 different spherical beads. How do they compare if you use 24 beads?

One block is needed to make an up-and-down staircase, with one step up and one step down. How many blocks would be needed to build an up-and-down staircase with 5 steps up and 5 steps down?

These sixteen children are standing in four lines of four, one behind the other. They are each holding a card with a number on it. Can you work out the missing numbers?

Place the numbers from 1 to 9 in the squares below so that the difference between joined squares is odd. How many different ways can you do this?

Imagine a pyramid which is built in square layers of small cubes. If we number the cubes from the top, starting with 1, can you picture which cubes are directly below this first cube?

Each light in this interactivity turns on according to a rule. What happens when you enter different numbers? Can you work out the rule for each light?

How many ways can you find to do up all four buttons on my coat? How about if I had five buttons? Six ...?

Place four pebbles on the sand in the form of a square. Keep adding as few pebbles as necessary to double the area. How many extra pebbles are added each time?