Using A Calculator

There are 366 different Starters of The Day, many to choose from. You will find in the left column below some starters on the topic of Using A Calculator.

A lesson starter does not have to be on the same topic as the main part of the lesson or the topic of the previous lesson. It is often very useful to revise and consolidate topic by using a starter based on a totally different topic. Some of the most popular starters are shown in the right column below.

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Using A Calculator Starters:

Aint One: Use a calculator to find which whole number divided by another whole number gives 1.8181818181.

Big Order: Estimate or calculate then put the large numbers in order of size.

Breathe Easily: How many breaths have you taken in your lifetime?

Broken Calculator: Use only the 1, 5 and 0 keys on a calculator to make given totals.

Broken Calculator 34: Some keys are missing from this calculator. Just how useful is it?

Calc-A-Hundred: A game for two players requiring a calculator and thinking skills.

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.

Digital Lights: Questions about the Small LEDs used to make up the digits on a calculator display.

Divided Age: How old is a person if when her age is divided by certain numbers, the calculator display ending are as shown.

Express This Year: Find an expression for the current year which uses all of the digits 1 to 9.

Faulty Button: Find out which of the calculator keys is faulty from the given information. A mathematical puzzle requiring good problem solving strategies.

Four Gone: An activity involving a broken calculator which is missing the four button. Can you evaluate the given expressions without using the four?

Inbetweens: Find fractions between two given values.

Maze: Beginning at the "Start" flag with 100 on your calculator. What is the largest and smallest total you can end up with at the "End" flag.

Missing digits: Find the digits missing from the calculations.

Noodlewhack: Divide one whole number by another on your calculator. If the answer has one digit repeated but no other digits you have a Noodlewhack.

Only One Number: Find other numbers that can be changed to 1 on a calculator using only the 4 key and any operation.

Recurring Decimal: Use your calculator to find which whole number divided by another whole number gives the answer 1.36363636

Six Discrimination: An activity involving a calculator which is missing the six button. Can you evaluate the given expressions without using the six?

Six Keys: With your calculator use just six keys to make a total of 25.

Complete Index of Starters

Featured Activity

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Hi-Low Predict

Similar to the 'Play Your Cards' right game.

Notes:

The English National Curriculul states that pupils should calculate accurately, selecting mental methods or calculating devices as appropriate. It then goes on to say that it is appropriate to use a calculator when performing a calculation without a calculator will take an inappropriate amount of time.

Transum has provided activities wich help pupils practise calculator skills and also use a calculator to investigate number patterns, properties and other aspects of Mathematics.

Using A Calculator Teacher Resources:

Broken Calculator (3 and 4): How can you make use of a calculator if it only has two number buttons.

Six Discrimination: The six button has dropped off! How could these calculations be done using this calculator?

Using A Calculator Activities:

BIDMAS: A self marking exercise testing the application of BIDMAS, an acronym describing the order of operations used when evaluating expressions.

Broken Calculator (1 and 5): Use only the 1, 5 and 0 keys on a calculator to make given totals

Broken Calculator (2 and 3): How can you make use of a calculator if it only has two number buttons.

Broken Calculator (3 and 4): How can you make use of a calculator if it only has two number buttons.

Broken Calculator (4 and 5): How can you make use of a calculator if it only has two number buttons.

Calculator Words: Turn your calculator upside down to make words out of the answers to these questions.

Consecutive Numbers: Find the consective numbers that are added or multiplied to give the given totals

Make 1000: Use the numbers on the strange calculator to make a total of 1000

Make an Expression: Use the digits given to form an expression equalling the given total.

Six Discrimination: The six button has dropped off! How could these calculations be done using this calculator?

Six Keys: Use just six keys on your calculator to make a given total.

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