Pyramid Puzzle

A Maths Starter of The Day

Write the numbers 1 to 5 in the bottom five bricks of this pyramid. They can be arranged in any order. The numbers in the other bricks are found by adding the two bricks immediately below together. What arrangement of the numbers in the bottom later of bricks gives the largest total in the top brick of the pyramid?

If you think you have found the largest number in the top brick, can you find the smallest?

A pyramid worksheet is available here

 

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Keywords: Starter | Algebra | Arithmetic | Number Patterns | Problem Solving

  • Claire Erving, Clapham
  • Wednesday, January 17, 2007
  • "Loved this starter - worked for a wide range of ages and abilities. I also extended it by getting the pupils to multiply - though you do get an answer in millions!"
  • Sue Johnson,
  • Thursday, January 18, 2007
  • "Excellent preparation for Yr 7 equation work See Badger Starters and Constructing Linear Equations pack"
  • class 5 6 a, St Catherines
  • Tuesday, January 08, 2008
  • "A really fun way to start the day!"
  • Simon Sandys, Northwood College
  • Monday, January 26, 2009
  • "My students showed me that the logical way to get the highest score is to put 5 in the middle so that you are maximising the highest number and 1 and 2 on the sides so that you are minimising their effects. The opposite, of course, to find the lowest number."

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This starter has scored a mean of 4.0 out of 5 based on 158 votes.

 

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The largest possible total is 61
The smallest possible total is 35
Computer Teacher, do your students have access to computers?
Do you have "Laptops in Lessons"?

Whether your students each have a TabletPC or share a desktop PC, this activity lends itself to eLearning (Engaged Learning).

Laptop

Here is the URL which will take them to a concise version of this page.

Transum.org/go/?Start=January4

Students could use a spreadsheet
to do the arithmetic for them.
The puzzle could then be extended to
larger pyramids.

 

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