Multi-Toil Panic

X -44

 

 

 

-132

 

 

-44

 

-264 792

 

1320

 

 

Copy and complete this multiplication grid.

 

Too easy? Too difficult? You can change the level of difficulty by clicking one of the buttons below.

Positive numbers only

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

Positive and Negative

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

Topics: Starter | Arithmetic | Negative Numbers

  • 8 set 2, Verdin High School Cheshire
  •  
  • Level 1 is too easy for some classes and yet level 2 is too difficult. There needs to be an easier level 2.
  • Transum,
  •  
  • Dear 8 set 2. Thanks very much for your feedback. On your suggestion the three level scale has now been changed to five levels. The new levels 2 and 3 fit between the old levels 1 and 2 in terms of difficulty.
    Having said that, the grids are generated by random numbers so there is a chance that a grid comprising of larger numbers is actually easier to solve. Refreshing the page will repopulate the grid with different numbers at the same level.
    The numbers at the heads of the rows and columns are randomly generated so that they are:
    Level 1: Up to 10
    Level 2: Up to 20
    Level 3: Up to 50
    Level 4: Up to 100
    Level 5: Up to 1000
  • Margaret,
  •  
  • How do I change the levels?
  • Transum,
  •  
  • Click on the links underneath the answers below for those who have a Transum subscription.
  • Miss Reakes, The English College Dubai
  •  
  • This is a fantastic starter as it works their brains at the start of the lesson while I take the register! I've used it a great deal with classes of varying abilities. They ring the values they fill in and I record their scores. We monitor it over a few lessons to see if they have improved or maintained a good accuracy and award house points
  • Mr Long, Saint John Houghton School
  •  
  • My Year 11 class spotted a pattern. the top left hand square is ALWAYS x
  • Sue, Plymouth
  •  
  • How about one extra level to have numbers from -12 to 12?
  • Mr Fox, Holmes Chapel Comprehensive
  •  
  • I agree, a negative numbers grid would be brilliant!
  • Transum,
  •  
  • Thanks for your suggestion Sue and Mr Fox. There is now the option to include negative numbers as can be seen below.
  • MAP, MAP
  •  
  • Like using this starter but really wish there was a 1.5 version with 5-12 times tables only. The jump to 20 is too much for my classes.
    Please?

    [Transum: Especially for you MAP, here is the link you wanted: Level 1.5.]
  • MAP, MAP
  •  
  • Just noticed a reply to my comment from last year!
    Thanks for this, to make it perfect though, could we have a negative/positive version of the 1.5?
    Thankyou again.

    [Transum: Once again, especially for you MAP, here is the link you wanted: Level 1.5 Negatives.]
  • Transum,
  •  
  • Teachers, as well as writing on your projected image of this starter with a whiteboard pen you can also type numbers into the empty cells to either record what your class has deduced or by giving additional starting numbers to help those struggling with this starter.
  • Ms Busby, Thorpe St Andrew
  •  
  • Any chance something could happen to indicate when students have the right answer? They are working on their own devices and would enjoy some celebratory graphics :-).

    [Transum: Thanks for your suggestion Ms Busby. This page is designed for the teacher to project onto a large whiteboard and for pupils to work in exercise books or computers. The functionality for typing in answers was intended for use by the teacher during the plenary. I think the message I'm getting is that there also needs to be a student interactive version of Multi-Toil Panic which provides feedback (and awards trophies). I'll add that request to the To Do list. Thanks]
  • Maths Is Fun Set, United Kingdom
  •  
  • We found this quite hard but when we got used to doing it we loved it. It helps us learn our times tables. We are Year 4.

How did you use this starter? Can you suggest how teachers could present or develop this resource? Do you have any comments? It is always useful to receive feedback and helps make this free resource even more useful for Maths teachers anywhere in the world.
Click here to enter your comments.

Previous Day | This starter is for 23 February | Next Day

 

Answers

Sign in to your Transum subscription account to see the answers

Change the numbers used in this starter

Positive numbers only  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Level 4  Level 5

Positive and Negative  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Level 4  Level 5



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It is often very difficult choosing Christmas presents for family and friends but so here are some seasonal, mathematics-related gifts chosen and recommended by Transum Mathematics.

Go Genius Maths

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How Not To Be Wrong

How Not To Be Wrong

The maths we learn in school can seem like an abstract set of rules, laid down by the ancients and not to be questioned. In fact, Jordan Ellenberg shows us, maths touches on everything we do, and a little mathematical knowledge reveals the hidden structures that lie beneath the world's messy and chaotic surface. In How Not to be Wrong, Ellenberg explores the mathematician's method of analyzing life, from the everyday to the cosmic, showing us which numbers to defend, which ones to ignore, and when to change the equation entirely. Along the way, he explains calculus in a single page, describes Gödel's theorem using only one-syllable words, and reveals how early you actually need to get to the airport.

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Graphic Display Calculator

This handheld device and companion software are designed to generate opportunities for classroom exploration and to promote greater understanding of core concepts in the mathematics and science classroom. TI-Nspire technology has been developed through sound classroom research which shows that "linked multiple representation are crucial in development of conceptual understanding and it is feasible only through use of a technology such as TI-Nspire, which provides simultaneous, dynamically linked representations of graphs, equations, data, and verbal explanations, such that a change in one representation is immediately reflected in the others.

For the young people in your life this is a great investment. Bought as a Christmas present but useful for many years to come as the young person turns into an A-level candidate then works their way through university. more... #ad

Calculator

Apple iPad Pro

The analytics show that more and more people are accessing Transum Mathematics via an iPad as it is so portable and responsive. The iPad has so many other uses in addition to solving Transum's puzzles and challenges and it would make an excellent gift for anyone.

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Before giving an iPad as a Christmas gift you could add a link to iPad Maths to the home screen.

Craig Barton's Tips for Teachers

Teaching is complex. But there are simple ideas we can enact to help our teaching be more effective. This book contains over 400 such ideas." more... #ad

"The ideas come from two sources. First, from the wonderful guests on his Tips for Teachers podcast - education heavyweights such as Dylan Wiliam, Daisy Christodoulou and Tom Sherrington, as well as talented teachers who are not household names but have so much wisdom to share. Then there's what he has learned from working with amazing teachers and students in hundreds of schools around the world.

Another Craig Barton Book

The Story Of Maths [DVD]

The films in this ambitious series offer clear, accessible explanations of important mathematical ideas but are also packed with engaging anecdotes, fascinating biographical details, and pivotal episodes in the lives of the great mathematicians. Engaging, enlightening and entertaining, the series gives viewers new and often surprising insights into the central importance of mathematics, establishing this discipline to be one of humanity s greatest cultural achievements. This DVD contains all four programmes from the BBC series.

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Christmas Maths

This book provides a wealth of fun activities with a Christmas theme. Each photocopiable worksheet is matched to the Numeracy Strategy and compatible with the Scottish 5-14 Guidelines. This series is designed for busy teachers in the late Autumn term who are desperate for materials that are relevant and interesting and that can be completed with minimun supervision.

All the activities are suitable for use by class teachers, supply teachers, SEN teachers and classroom assistants and cover topics such as 'How many partridges did the true love give all together?' and 'Filling a sleigh with presents by rolling a dice!'. Children will have lots of fun working through the Christmas Maths themes but also gain valuable skills along the way.

A great source of ideas and another reasonably priced stocking filler. more... #ad

A Compendium Of 	Mathematical Methods

A Compendium Of Mathematical Methods

How many different methods do you know to solve simultaneous equations? To multiply decimals? To find the nth term of a sequence?

A Compendium of Mathematical Methods brings together over one hundred different approaches from classrooms all over the world, giving curious mathematicians the opportunity to explore fascinating methods that they've never before encountered.

If you teach mathematics to any age group in any country, you are guaranteed to learn lots of new things from this delightful book. It will deepen your subject knowledge and enhance your teaching, whatever your existing level of expertise. It will inspire you to explore new approaches with your pupils and provide valuable guidance on explanations and misconceptions. more... #ad

Math with Bad Drawings

I had been tutoring the wonderful Betsy for five years. When the day came for our last ever session together before the end of her Year 13, I received this beautiful book as a gift of appreciation.

This a very readable book by Ben Orlin. I'm really enjoying the humour in the writing and the drawings are great.

Ben Orlin answers maths' three big questions: Why do I need to learn this? When am I ever going to use it? Why is it so hard? The answers come in various forms-cartoons, drawings, jokes, and the stories and insights of an empathetic teacher who believes that mathematics should belong to everyone. more... #ad

Click the images above to see all the details of these gift ideas and to buy them online.

Maths T-Shirts

Maths T-shirts on Amazon
Maths T-Shirts on Amazon

Your access to the majority of the Transum resources continues to be free but you can help support the continued growth of the website by doing your Amazon shopping using the links on this page. Below is an Amazon link. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases which helps pay for the upkeep of this website.

Educational Technology on Amazon

 

Online Maths Shop

Laptops In Lessons

Teacher, do your students have access to computers such as tablets, iPads or Laptops?  This page was really designed for projection on a whiteboard but if you really want the students to have access to it here is a concise URL for a version of this page without the comments:

Transum.org/go/?Start=February23

However it would be better to assign one of the student interactive activities below.

Laptops In Lessons

Here is the URL which will take them to a related pupil activity.

Transum.org/go/?Num=841

Student Activity

 


Curriculum Reference

See the National Curriculum page for links to related online activities and resources.

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