Problem Solving Starters:Add 'em: Add up a sequence of consecutive numbers. Can you find a quick way to do it? All for 100: Can you write an ex Area Two: How many different shapes with an area of 2 square units can you make by joining dots on this grid with straight lines? Balloon Bursting Buttons: Use only the 1, 5 and 0 keys on a calculator to make given totals. Bizarre Triangle: By how much would the area of this triangle increase if its base was enlarged to 8cm? Boxing Day: Work out the contents and the cost of the Christmas boxes from the given clues. Calculator Nim: A game in which players take turns to add a single-digit number to what is already in the calculator. The winner is the player who makes the display show 30. Cars: Calculate the total cost of four cars from the information given. Chin-Ups: Work out the number of chin ups the characters do on the last day of the week give information about averages. Christmas Presents: Work out the total cost of five Christmas presents from the information given. ClockEquate: Can you use the digits on the left of this clock along with any mathematical operations to equal the digits on the right? Coins On The Table: A puzzle about the number of coins on a table given information about fractions of them. Consecutive: Three consecutive numbers multiplied together give a given product. Pupils are asked to figure out what the numbers are. Consecy Brothers: Which three consecutive numbers multiplied together give the given answer. Cracked Clock: How did the clock break if the numbers on each of the pieces added up to the same total? Cube Calendar: What numbers should be on each face of the two cubes to make this perpetual calendar? Dice Nets: Determine whether the given nets would fold to produce a dice. Digivide: Arrange the digits 1 to 6 to make a three digit number divided by a two digit number giving a one digit answer. Family Buses: Fit families onto eleven seater buses without splitting up the families. Faulty Button: Find out which of the calculator keys is faulty from the given information. A mathematical puzzle requiring good problem solving strategies. For Thought: Add up the answers to the four real life questions. Four Gone: An activity involving a broken calculator which is missing the four button. Can you evaluate the given expressions without using the four? Four to Seven: Which of the numbers from one to twenty can you make with the digits 4, 5, 6 and 7? Four's Independence: A clock face containing only the number 4. Can you make a clock face containing any other single number? Framed Numbers: Figure out which numbers will complete the sentences in the frame correctly. Freemason's Cipher: Find symmetric words in this ancient cipher. Giraffe: The height of this giraffe is three and a half metres plus half of its height. How tall is the giraffe? Handshakes: If all the students in this room shook hands with each other, how many handshakes would there be altogether? How Do You Do?: A little lateral thinking will help you solve this number puzzle. How Many Triangles? 1: How many Triangles can you find in the diagram? How Many Triangles? 2: How many triangles are hidden in the pattern? What strategy might you use to count them all to ensure you don't miss any out? How Many Triangles? 3: Find a systematic way of counting the number of triangles in the given diagram. Justundera Quid: Find a word whose letters would cost exactly ninety nine pence. Know Weigh: Find the weight of one cuboid (by division) of each colour then add your answers together. Letter Clue Calculations: Work out what the calculations might be from the letter clues. Light Shopping: A lamp and a bulb together cost 32 pounds. The lamp costs 30 pounds more than the bulb. How much does the bulb cost? Match Fish: A classic matchstick puzzle designed to challenge your spacial awareness. Missing digits: Find which digits are missing from the randomly generated calculations. Missing Pound: A puzzle about a restaurant bill. Exactly where did the missing pound go? Nine Digit Sum: Arrange the digits one to nine to make a correct addition calculation. Nine Nine Nine: Arrange the numbers 1-9 to make three 3 digit numbers that add up to 999. Not Too Close: This activity requires eight students to sit non consecutively on a grid of chairs. One Digit 100: How many ways can you write an expression for 100 which only uses the same digit repeated and any operations? One Torch Tunnel: Work out the least amount of time for four people to walk through a tunnel? Peanuts and Buttons: Two questions involving estimating a quantity. Pentadd: Five numbers are added together in pairs and the sums shown. What might the five numbers be? Plane Numbers: Arrange numbers on the plane shaped grid to produce the given totals Plant More Trees: If six girls can plant 90 trees in a day. How many trees can ten girls plant in a day? The unitary method. Product Placement: Arrange the numbers to produce the largest product. Pyramid Puzzle: Arrange numbers at the bottom of the pyramid which will give the largest total at the top. Rabbits and Chickens: There are some rabbits and chickens in a field. Calculate how many of each given the number of heads and feet. Rail Weigh: Use the weights of the trains to work out the weight of a locomotive and a coach. A real situation which produces simultaneous equations. Render Digitful: Find a calculation for the current year which uses all of the digits 1 to 9. Roundabout: Go around the roundabout performing each of the operations. Which starting point gives the largest answer? Rows of Roses: Can you draw 4 straight lines, without taking your pencil off the paper, which pass through all 9 roses? Santa's Sleigh: Work out the number of clowns and horses given the number of heads and feet. Sea Shells: A question which can be best answered by using algebra. Shadow Sums: Make sums from the three digit numbers given. Shunting Problem: Allow two trains to pass by using the limited amount of siding space. Siam Symbols: Can you work out what each of the strange symbols represents in these calculations? Simple Nim: The classic game of Nim played with a group of pens and pencils. The game can be extended to the multi-pile version. Simultaneous Occasions: A problem which can best be solved as a pair of simultaneous equations. Six Discrimination: An activity involving a calculator which is missing the six button. Can you evaluate the given expressions without using the six? Small Satisfaction: Arrange the digits one to nine in the grid so that they obey the row and column headings. Snowman and Woman: How many different ways can you spell out the word snowman by moving from snowflake to snowflake. Spinsum: Arrange the numbers on the grid of squares so that the totals along each line of three squares are equal. Square and Even: Arrange the numbers on the cards so that each of the three digit numbers formed horizontally are square numbers and each of the three digit numbers formed vertically are even. Square Pairs: Arrange the numbered trees so that adjacent sums are square numbers. Squared Animals: Separate three rows of three animals using three squares. Stair Perimeter: Use the information implied in the diagram to calculate the perimeter of this shape. Stencils: Which of the coloured stencils will fit over the numbered card to produce correct calculations? Step Perimeter: Is it possible to work out the perimeter of this shape if not all the side lengths are given? Suko: Interactive number-based logic puzzle similar to those featuring in The Times and Telegraph newspapers. Sum Equals Product: What are the numbers if their sum equals their product? Sum of the Signs: Each traffic sign stands for a number. Some of the sums of rows and columns are shown. What numbers might the signs stand for? Sum Square: Arrange the numbers one to eight into the calculations to make the totals correct.. Team Age: Work out who is in which team from the information given. Tindice: How can you put the dice into the tins so that there is an odd number of dice in each tin? Tran's Hats: In how many different ways might Tran decide to wear his hats in one week? Two Twins and Tim: A tricky problem set on a coordinate grid. Unmagic Square: Arrange the numbers 1 to 9 in a 3 by 3 grid so that none of the line totals are the same. Word Sum: Each letter stands for a different digit. Can you make sense of this word sum?
Small images of these Starters :: Index of Starters Problem Solving Advanced Starters:Biased Coin: Use a biased coin to obtain a fair result Charging Rhinos: Find the easy way to solve this kinematics problem involving a fly and two rhinos. Cheryl's Birthday: Use a process of elimination to work out the correct date from the clues given. Cuboid: Find the dimensions of a cuboid matching the description given Difference Cipher: Find the mathematical word from the cipher Fence Optimisation: Find the length of a rectangle enclosing the largest possible area. Fermi Problem: The classic Fermi problem using standard estimation techniques Hands Together: The hands of a clock are together at midnight. At what time are they next together? Multiple of sum of digits: What number is six times the sum of its digits? Road Connections: Design roads to connect four houses that are on the corners of a square, side of length one mile, to minimise the total length of the roads. Same Series Sum: Find an arithmetic series and a geometric series that have the same sum of the first five terms. Same Three Digits: Find ex SuggestedArea and Perimeter of a Rectangle Questions on the areas and perimeters of rectangles which will test your problem solving abilities.
Curriculum for Problem Solving:Year 5Pupils should be taught to solve addition and subtraction multi-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why more... Pupils should be taught to use all four operations to solve problems involving measure [for example, length, mass, volume, money] using decimal notation, including scaling more... Pupils should be taught to solve problems involving multiplication and division including using their knowledge of factors and multiples, squares and cubes more... Pupils should be taught to solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and a combination of these, including understanding the meaning of the equals sign more... Pupils should be taught to solve problems involving number up to three decimal places more... Pupils should be taught to solve problems involving multiplication and division, including scaling by simple fractions and problems involving simple rates more... Year 6Pupils should be taught to solve problems involving the relative sizes of two quantities where missing values can be found by using integer multiplication and division facts more... Pupils should be taught to solve problems involving the calculation of percentages [for example, of measures, and such as 15% of 360] and the use of percentages for comparison more... Pupils should be taught to solve problems involving unequal sharing and grouping using knowledge of fractions and multiples. more... Pupils should be taught to find pairs of numbers that satisfy an equation with two unknowns more... Pupils should be taught to solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division more... Pupils should be taught to use estimation to check answers to calculations and determine, in the context of a problem, an appropriate degree of accuracy. more... Pupils should be taught to solve problems which require answers to be rounded to specified degrees of accuracy more... Feedback:Comment recorded on the 24 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Ruth Seward, Hagley Park Sports College: "Find the starters wonderful; students enjoy them and often want to use the idea generated by the starter in other parts of the lesson. Keep up the good work" Comment recorded on the 1 August 'Starter of the Day' page by Peter Wright, St Joseph's College: "Love using the Starter of the Day activities to get the students into Maths mode at the beginning of a lesson. Lots of interesting discussions and questions have arisen out of the activities. Comment recorded on the 5 April 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Stoner, St George's College of Technology: "This resource has made a great deal of difference to the standard of starters for all of our lessons. Thank you for being so creative and imaginative." Comment recorded on the 11 January 'Starter of the Day' page by S Johnson, The King John School: "We recently had an afternoon on accelerated learning.This linked really well and prompted a discussion about learning styles and short term memory." Comment recorded on the 17 November 'Starter of the Day' page by Amy Thay, Coventry: "Thank you so much for your wonderful site. I have so much material to use in class and inspire me to try something a little different more often. I am going to show my maths department your website and encourage them to use it too. How lovely that you have compiled such a great resource to help teachers and pupils. Comment recorded on the 10 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Carol, Sheffield PArk Academy: "3 NQTs in the department, I'm new subject leader in this new academy - Starters R Great!! Lovely resource for stimulating learning and getting eveyone off to a good start. Thank you!!" Comment recorded on the s /Indice 'Starter of the Day' page by Busolla, Australia: "Thank you very much for providing these resources for free for teachers and students. It has been engaging for the students - all trying to reach their highest level and competing with their peers while also learning. Thank you very much!" Comment recorded on the s /Coordinate 'Starter of the Day' page by Greg, Wales: "Excellent resource, I use it all of the time! The only problem is that there is too much good stuff here!!" Comment recorded on the 9 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Jones, Wales: "I think that having a starter of the day helps improve maths in general. My pupils say they love them!!!" Comment recorded on the 19 June 'Starter of the Day' page by Nikki Jordan, Braunton School, Devon: "Excellent. Thank you very much for a fabulous set of starters. I use the 'weekenders' if the daily ones are not quite what I want. Brilliant and much appreciated." Comment recorded on the 3 October 'Starter of the Day' page by S Mirza, Park High School, Colne: "Very good starters, help pupils settle very well in maths classroom." Comment recorded on the 14 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Inger Kisby, Herts and Essex High School: "Just a quick note to say that we use a lot of your starters. It is lovely to have so many different ideas to start a lesson with. Thank you very much and keep up the good work." Comment recorded on the 25 June 'Starter of the Day' page by Inger.kisby@herts and essex.herts.sch.uk, : "We all love your starters. It is so good to have such a collection. We use them for all age groups and abilities. Have particularly enjoyed KIM's game, as we have not used that for Mathematics before. Keep up the good work and thank you very much Comment recorded on the 10 April 'Starter of the Day' page by Mike Sendrove, Salt Grammar School, UK.: "A really useful set of resources - thanks. Is the collection available on CD? Are solutions available?" Comment recorded on the 23 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Judy, Chatsmore CHS: "This triangle starter is excellent. I have used it with all of my ks3 and ks4 classes and they are all totally focused when counting the triangles." Comment recorded on the 28 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Malcolm P, Dorset: "A set of real life savers!! Comment recorded on the 1 February 'Starter of the Day' page by M Chant, Chase Lane School Harwich: "My year five children look forward to their daily challenge and enjoy the problems as much as I do. A great resource - thanks a million." Comment recorded on the 3 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Fiona Bray, Cams Hill School: "This is an excellent website. We all often use the starters as the pupils come in the door and get settled as we take the register." Comment recorded on the 2 April 'Starter of the Day' page by Mrs Wilshaw, Dunsten Collage,Essex: "This website was brilliant. My class and I really enjoy doing the activites." Comment recorded on the 3 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Mrs Johnstone, 7Je: "I think this is a brilliant website as all the students enjoy doing the puzzles and it is a brilliant way to start a lesson." Comment recorded on the 16 March 'Starter of the Day' page by Mrs A Milton, Ysgol Ardudwy: "I have used your starters for 3 years now and would not have a lesson without one! Fantastic way to engage the pupils at the start of a lesson." Comment recorded on the 12 July 'Starter of the Day' page by Miss J Key, Farlingaye High School, Suffolk: "Thanks very much for this one. We developed it into a whole lesson and I borrowed some hats from the drama department to add to the fun!" Comment recorded on the 6 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Natalie, London: "I am thankful for providing such wonderful starters. They are of immence help and the students enjoy them very much. These starters have saved my time and have made my lessons enjoyable." Comment recorded on the 14 September 'Starter of the Day' page by Trish Bailey, Kingstone School: "This is a great memory aid which could be used for formulae or key facts etc - in any subject area. The PICTURE is such an aid to remembering where each number or group of numbers is - my pupils love it! Comment recorded on the 8 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Smith, West Sussex, UK: "I am an NQT and have only just discovered this website. I nearly wet my pants with joy. Comment recorded on the 7 December 'Starter of the Day' page by Cathryn Aldridge, Pells Primary: "I use Starter of the Day as a registration and warm-up activity for my Year 6 class. The range of questioning provided is excellent as are some of the images. Comment recorded on the 17 June 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Hall, Light Hall School, Solihull: "Dear Transum, Comment recorded on the 2 May 'Starter of the Day' page by Angela Lowry, : "I think these are great! So useful and handy, the children love them. Comment recorded on the 21 October 'Starter of the Day' page by Mr Trainor And His P7 Class(All Girls), Mercy Primary School, Belfast: "My Primary 7 class in Mercy Primary school, Belfast, look forward to your mental maths starters every morning. The variety of material is interesting and exciting and always engages the teacher and pupils. Keep them coming please." Comment recorded on the 19 November 'Starter of the Day' page by Lesley Sewell, Ysgol Aberconwy, Wales: "A Maths colleague introduced me to your web site and I love to use it. The questions are so varied I can use them with all of my classes, I even let year 13 have a go at some of them. I like being able to access Starters for the whole month so I can use favourites with classes I see at different times of the week. Thanks." |
Notes:What good is being a master of calculation if you cannot apply your skills to problem solving? This topic provides lots of examples, activities and situations in which pupils can practise their problem solving skills. Problem Solving Teacher Resources:Ice-cream Combinations: How many two-scoop ice creams can you make from the given flavours? Countdown: How close can you get to the target by making a calculation out of the five numbers given? Word Sums Guide: A step by step guide showing how to solve a Word Sum where each letter stands for a different digit. Satisfaction: This is quite a challenging number grouping puzzle requiring a knowledge of prime, square and triangular numbers. Problem Solving Activities:Area and Perimeter of a Rectangle: Questions on the areas and perimeters of rectangles which will test your problem solving abilities. Number Jigsaws: Online, interactive jigsaw puzzles of grids of numbers. Ice-cream Combinations: How many two-scoop ice creams can you make from the given flavours? Prime Numbers Jigsaw: Interactive jigsaw puzzles of different types of grids containing prime numbers. Four Sum: Arrange the given number tiles to make two 2 digit numbers that add up to the given total. Brainbox: A puzzle requiring the arrangement of numbers on the function machines to link the given input numbers to the correct output. Broken Calculator: Some of the buttons are missing from this calculator. Can you make the totals from 1 to 20? Tangram Table: Use the pieces of the tangram puzzle to make the basic shapes then complete the table showing which shapes are possible. Consecutive Numbers: Find the consective numbers that are added or multiplied to give the given totals Multitude: Arrange the given digits to make three numbers such that the third is the product of the first and the second. Nine Digits: Arrange the given digits to make three numbers such that two of them add up to the third. Roman Numerals Jigsaw: An online interactive jigsaw puzzle of a grid of Roman numerals. Camp Bosrow: Place the camping items into the plots on the camp site according to the clues given. Green Fingers: Choose the amount of liquid from each bottle needed to make the watermelon grow as big as possible. Festive Fivesome: Use the number clues to answer the seasonal questions about the five festive figures. Equatero: Find the expression from a series of guesses and clues. Arithmagons: Find the missing numbers in these triangular, self-checking puzzles and discover the wonders of these fascinating structures. Stable Scales: Ten balance puzzles to prepare you for solving equations. How Many of Each?: Work out how many items were bought from the information given. Cracked Clock Quiz: A self marking set of ten mathematical questions about a clock which cracked! Awe-Sum: Arrange the given digits to make six 3-digit numbers that combine in an awesome way. Largest Product: A drag and drop activity challenging you to arrange the digits to produce the largest possible product. Area Maze: Use your knowledge of rectangle areas to calculate the missing measurement of these composite diagrams. Ludicross: Arrange the given numbers on the cross so that the sum of the numbers in both diagonals is the same. Magic Square: Each row, column and diagonal should produce the same sum. Triside Totals: Arrange the digits 1 to 9 on the triangle so that the sum of the numbers along each side is equal to the given total. Not Too Close: The students numbered 1 to 8 should sit on the chairs so that no two consecutively numbered students sit next to each other. T Puzzle: Use the pieces of the T puzzle to fit into the outlines provided. A drag, rotate and drop interactive challenge. Squorder: The Transum version of the traditional sliding tile puzzle. Area Wall Puzzles: Divide the grid into rectangular pieces so that the area of each piece is the same as the number it contains. Mixpressions: Arrange the cards to create a valid mathematical statement. Multi-step Problems: Solve multi-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why. Factor Trees Challenge: Can you determine the unique digits that will complete these factor trees? How Many Triangles?: A self marking step by step approach to calculating the number of triangles in a design. Nine Nine Nine: Use the digits 1 to 9 to make three 3 digit numbers which add up to 999. Thrice: A challenge to place all nine counters on the grid in such a way that they form exactly 10 straight lines, with each line containing three counters. Centexpression: Arrange the numbers from 1 to 9 to make an expression with a value of 100. Superfluous: Find a strategy to figure out the values of the letters used in these calculations. Numskull: Interactive, randomly-generated, number-based logic puzzle designed to develop numeracy skills. Vector Cops: Help the cops catch the robbers by finding the vectors that will end the chase. Jugs: Can you make four litres if you only have seven and five litre jugs? Car Park Puzzle: Can you get your car out of the very crowded car park by moving other cars forwards or backwards? One Digit Only: Find expressions using only one digit which equal the given targets. Shunting Puzzles: Move the trams to their indicated parking places in the shunting yard as quickly as possible. Partial Pyramids: Calculate the missing numbers in these partly completed pyramid puzzles. Mine Find: Find where the mines are hidden without stepping on one. Pentadd Quiz: Find the five numbers which when added or multiplied together in pairs to produce the given sums or products. Clue Sudoku: A different way to complete a Sudoku puzzle with clues available at every stage. Pick Up Sticks: If you were to pick up the sticks from this pile so that you were always removing the top stick what calculation would you create? Logic Puzzle: Solve this deduction logic puzzle to find who, where and what. Plane Numbers: Arrange numbers on the plane shaped grid to produce the given totals River Crossing: The traditional River Crossing challenge. Can you do it in the smallest number of moves? Goal Products: Arrange the numbered footballs on the goal posts to make three, 3-number products that are all the same. Plus: A number arranging puzzle with seven levels of challenge. Pyramid Puzzle: Numbers in the bricks are found by adding the two bricks immediately below together. Can you achieve the given target? Pancake Day: Toss the pancakes until they are neatly stacked in order of size. Find how to do this using the smallest number of moves. Pentominoes: Arrange the twelve pentominoes in the outline of a rectangle. Where's Wallaby?: Find the hidden wallaby using the clues revealed at the chosen coordinates. Polygon Pieces: Arrange the nine pieces of the puzzle on the grid to make different polygons. Unitary Method: Ten questions which can be solved using the unitary method. Six Discrimination: The six button has dropped off! How could these calculations be done using this calculator? Egg Timers: The classic hourglass puzzle; Time the boiling of an egg using only the two egg timers provided. Spinsum: Arrange the numbers on the squares so that the totals along each line of three squares are equal. Thai Numbers Jigsaw: An online interactive jigsaw puzzle of a grid of Thai number symbols. Go Figure: Arrange the digits one to nine to make the four calculations correct. Suko Sujiko: Interactive number-based logic puzzles similar to those featuring in daily newspapers. Bidmaze: Find your way through the maze encountering mathematical operations in the correct order to achieve the given total. Divisive: Arrange the digits one to nine on the spaces provided to make two division calculations containing multiples of three. Tantrum: A game, a puzzle and a challenge involving counters being placed at the corners of a square on a grid. Sheep Herding: Arrange the sheep in the field according to the instructions. An introduction to loci. Chinese Numbers Jigsaw: An online interactive jigsaw puzzle of a grid of Chinese number symbols. Partition Clues: Partition numbers in different ways according to the clues given. The higher levels are quite hard! Product Square: Arrange the given numbers in a three by three grid to obtain the diagonal, row and column products. The Miller's Puzzle: This is an interactive version of the puzzle described by Henry Ernest Dudeney in The Canterbury Puzzles Circumfraction: Quite a challenging number placing puzzle involving fractions. Tools: In how many different ways can the numbers be arranged to give the same totals? Satisfy: Place the nine numbers in the table so they obey the row and column headings about the properties of the numbers. Perfect Magic Square: Arrange the sixteen numbers on the four by four grid so that groups of four numbers in a pattern add up to the same total. Puzzle Cube Net: A jumbled moving-block puzzle cube is shown as a net. Can you solve it? Unmagic Square: Like the magic square but all of the totals should be different. Tran Towers: An adventure game requiring students to solve puzzles as they move through the old mansion. Which Operation?: Decide which mathematical operation is required then use it to find the answers. Square and Even: Arrange the numbers on the cards so that each of the three digit numbers formed horizontally are square numbers and each of the three digit numbers formed vertically are even. Triangled Hexagram: Arrange the twelve numbers in the triangles on the hexagram so that the numbers in each line of five triangles add up to the same total. Code Cracker: Crack the code by replacing the encrypted letters in the given text. There are lots of hints provided about code breaking techniques. Tower of Hanoi: Move the pieces of the tower from one place to another in the minimum number of moves. Hexagram Star: Arrange the twelve numbers on the hexagram so that the numbers in each line add up to the same total. Fleur-De-Lis: Click on six fleur-de-lis to leave an even number in each row and column. Prime Square: Drag the numbers into the red cells so that the sum of the three numbers in each row and each column is a prime number. Digivide: Arrange the numbers from 1 to 6 in the spaces to make the division calculation correct. Satisfaction: This is quite a challenging number grouping puzzle requiring a knowledge of prime, square and triangular numbers. Double Treble: Arrange the digits to make three 3 digit numbers such that the second is double the first and the third is three times the first. Doughnut Dissection: A puzzle to find four different ways of making 900 by multiplying together three different numbers. One Torch Tunnel: Solve the problem of getting four people through a tunnel with one torch in the minimum amount of time. Octagram Star: Arrange the sixteen numbers on the octagram so that the numbers in each line add up to the same total. Unbeknownst: Some picture grid puzzles which can be solved by using simultaneous equations. Framed Numbers: Figure out which numbers will complete the sentences in the frame correctly. A drag and drop activity. Scheduling Puzzle: Make a schedule for the 24-hour Darts Marathon which will take into account everyone's requests and keep everyone happy. Tran Tunnels: A mini adventure game containing maths puzzles and problems. Find your way through the maze of tunnels to find Goldberg's magic harpsicord. Power Shift: Arrange the given numbers as bases and indices in the three-term sum to make the target total. Trafalgar Square: Solve the number puzzles drawn on the pavement of Trafalgar Square in London. Window View: Drag the 20 flowers into the gardens so that 9 flowers are visible from each window of the house. Scouts in Boats: Arrange a rota for the Scouts to travel in boats so that they are with different people each day. Dominoes Puzzle: Arrange the dominoes in seven squares. The number of dots along each side of the square must be equal to the number in the middle. Some Sums and Products: Number puzzles involving adding, multiplying and problem solving Finally there is Topic Test, a set of 10 randomly chosen, multiple choice questions suggested by people from around the world. Problem Solving Investigations:Green Fingers: Choose the amount of liquid from each bottle needed to make the watermelon grow as big as possible. Crossing the River: Two men and two boys want to cross a river and they only have one canoe which will only hold one man or two boys. Aunt Sophie's Post Office: Investigate the ways of making up various postage amounts using 3p and 8p stamps. An online stamp calculator is provided for you to check your working. Jugs: Can you make four litres if you only have seven and five litre jugs? How Many Rectangles?: Investigate the number of rectangles on a grid of squares. What strategies will be useful in coming up with the answer? Egg Timers: The classic hourglass puzzle; Time the boiling of an egg using only the two egg timers provided. Tantrum: A game, a puzzle and a challenge involving counters being placed at the corners of a square on a grid. Tower of Hanoi: Move the pieces of the tower from one place to another in the minimum number of moves. Braille: Investigate the possibility of redesigning the Braille alphabet to make it easier to learn. Window View: Drag the 20 flowers into the gardens so that 9 flowers are visible from each window of the house. Search for Infinity: Manipulate the Lissajou curve to produce a perfectly symmetrical (vertically and horizontally) infinity symbol. Featured Investigations Anti-Calculator: A puzzle about a two digit number divided by the sum of its digits. Problem Solving Videos:Puzzles In The Simpsons: The Simpson's 26th season finale. 'Mathlete's Feat' is full of mathematical problems that Presh solves. The Train Fly Problem: This video from Mind Your Decisions teaches a trick so you can solve the puzzle quickly. Problems with Zero: Dividing by zero, zero divided by zero and zero to the power of zero - all pose problems! Problem Solving Worksheets/Printables:How Many Squares? 1: A printable grid containing many copies of the design used in the shape counting Starter. How Many Squares 2 Worksheet: A printable grid containing many copies of the design used in the second shape counting Starter. Line Drawings: Six line drawings that may or may not be able to be traced without lifting the pencil or going over any line twice. Lemon Law Worksheet: Can you find the solution to these Lemon Law challenges using a spreadsheet? How Many Rectangles Worksheet: A worksheet containing many copies of the How Many Rectangles Starter diagram allowing students to record their findings. Siam Symbols Worksheet: Work out which digit each of the ten symbols represents from the six given calculations. Two Twins Printable: This worksheet extends the puzzle in the July 21st Starter of the Day. Tools Worksheet: A worksheet containing the grids to fill in for the Tools puzzles. Missing Operations Worksheet: Each box represents a missing operation (add, subtract, multiply or divide). Can you work out what they are? Pyramid Worksheet: Put the numbers 1 to 5 in the bottom row of the pyramid then each other brick is the sum of the two below. Problem Solving External Links:Links to other websites containing resources for Problem Solving are provided for those logged into 'Transum Mathematics'. Subscribing also opens up the opportunity for you to add your own links to this panel. You can sign up using one of the buttons below: SearchThe activity you are looking for may have been classified in a different way from the way you were expecting. You can search the whole of Transum Maths by using the box below.
OtherIs there anything you would have a regular use for that we don't feature here? Please let us know. SuggestedSome Sums and Products Number puzzles involving adding, multiplying and problem solving
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Whitney Edmondson, Linkedin
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
"This month we ran our puzzle and problem solving team competition amongst the different grades. We decided to improve from the traditional "hard maths" questions and have inquiry and thinking stations. This wasn't about who was the best at just Maths, it was about who was the best at doing Maths using all the MYP ATL Skills.
Thanks again to the fantastic Transum.org site for the puzzles I used to create the stations. To mention a few brilliant aspects about using this site for Maths stations.
On refreshing you get a new but similar puzzle, points are often generated, instructions included for staff to read and creative interactive levels you can adjust depending on the grade...Completely FREE!"