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 expression for 100 which uses all the digits 1 to 9? All The Nines: Arrange the numbers 1-9 to make three 3 digit numbers that add up to 999. 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? Broken Calculator: Use only the 1, 5 and 0 keys on a calculator to make given totals. 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. Christmas Presents: Work out the total cost of five Christmas presents from the information given. Coins On The Table: A problem about the number of coins on a table given information about fractions of them. Consecutive: Three consecutive numbers multiplied together give a given product. Students 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? 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. Express This Year: Find an expression for the current year which uses all of the digits 1 to 9. 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 1 to 20 can you make with the digits 4, 5, 6 and 7? Freemason's Cipher: Find symmetric words in this ancient cipher. 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: Count the number of triangles in the given diagram. Justundera Quid: Find a word whose letters would cost exactly ninety nine pence. 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: Work out what the missing digits in the calculations are. Missing Pound: A puzzle about a restaurant bill. Nim: The classic game of Nim played with a group of pens and pencils. Not Too Close: This activity, sometimes known as 'Keep Your Distance' requires eight students to sit non consecutively on a grid of chairs. Oblongs: Find the dimensions of a rectangle given the perimeter and area. One Digit 100: How many ways can you write an expression for 100 which only uses the same digit repeated and any operations? Peanuts and Buttons: Two questions involving estimating a quantity. Perimeter: Is it possible to work out the perimeter of this shape if the lengths of all the sides are not given? Plane Numbers: Arrange numbers on the plane shaped grid to produce the given totals 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: Record the weights of the trains to work out the weight of a locomotive and a coach. A real situation which produces simultaneous equations. 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. 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? 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 numbers one to nine on the grid so 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. 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? 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. Texting: A code breaking exercise based on the use of predictive text. 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. Windmill: Arrange the numbers on the yellow squares so that the totals along each line of three squares are equal. Word Sum: Each letter stands for a different digit. Can you make sense of word sum?
Featured ActivityHi-Low Predict Similar to the 'Play Your Cards' right game. |
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 students can practise their problem solving skills. Problem Solving Teacher Resources:Broken Calculator (3 and 4): How can you make use of a calculator if it only has two number buttons. Countdown: How close can you get to the target by making a calculation out of the five numbers given? Ice-cream Combinations: How many two-scoop ice creams can you make from the given flavours? Keep your Distance: Arranging numbers so that consecutive numbers don't end up together. Magic Square: Each row, column and diagonal should prouce the same sum. Plus: A number arranging puzzle 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. Satisfaction: A number properties investigation Satisfy: A number properties problem Six Discrimination: The six button has dropped off! How could these calculations be done using this calculator? Tools: In how many different ways can the numbers be arranged to give the same totals? Unmagic Square: Like the magic square but all of the totals should be different. Problem Solving Activities:All The Nines: Use the digits 1 to 9 to make three 3 digit numbers which add up to 999 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. Centexpression: Arrange the numbers from 1 to 9 to make an expression with a value of 100. Clue Sudoku: A different way to complete a Sudoku puzzle with clues available at every stage. Code Cracker: Crack the code by finding out which letters replace the encrypted letters in the text given. There are lots of hints provided about code breaking techniques. Consecutive Numbers: Find the consective numbers that are added or multiplied to give the given totals Cracked Clock Quiz: A self marking set of 10 questions about a clock which cracked! Digivide: Arrange the numbers from 1 to 6 in the spaces to make the calculation correct. Green Fingers: Find the best quantities to make the watermelon grow. How Many Triangles?: A self marking step by step approach to calculating the number of triangles in a design. How Many?: Work out how many items were bought from the information given. Ice-cream Combinations: How many two-scoop ice creams can you make from the given flavours? Keep your Distance: Arranging numbers so that consecutive numbers don't end up together. Largest Product: Arranging digits to produce the largest product Magic Square: Each row, column and diagonal should prouce the same sum. Mine Find: Find where the mines are hidden without stepping on one. Mixpressions: Arrange the cards to create a valid mathematical statement. 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. Oblongs: Find the lengths of the sides of rectangles given their areas and perimeters. One Digit Only: Find expressions using only one digit which equal the given targets. Plane Numbers: Arrange numbers on the plane shaped grid to produce the given totals Plus: A number arranging puzzle 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. Pyramid Puzzle: Numbers in the bricks are found by adding the two bricks immediately below together. Can you achieve the given target? River Crossing: The traditional River Crossing challenge. Can you do it in the smallest number of moves? Satisfaction: A number properties investigation Satisfy: A number properties problem Sheep Herding: Arrange the sheep in the field according to the instructions. An introduction to loci. Six Discrimination: The six button has dropped off! How could these calculations be done using this calculator? 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. Squorder: The Transum version of the traditional sliding tile puzzle. Stable Scales: Ten balance puzzles to prepare you for solving equations. Stamp Sticking: Drag stamps onto the envelopes to make the exact postage as shown at the top left of each envelope. Tools: In how many different ways can the numbers be arranged to give the same totals? Tran Towers: An adventure game requiring students to solve puzzles as they move through the old mansion. Tran Tunnels: An adventure game requiring students to solve puzzles as they move through the tunnels. Unitary Method: Ten questions which can be solved using the unitary method. Unmagic Square: Like the magic square but all of the totals should be different. Window View: Drag the 20 flowers into the gardens so that 9 flowers are visible from each window of the house. Xmas Presents: Work out the cost of the Christmas presents from the information given. Problem Solving Investigations:Braille: Investigate the possibility of redesigning the Braille alphabet to make it easier to learn. 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. Green Fingers: Find the best quantities to make the watermelon grow. How Many Rectangles?: Investigate the number of rectangles on a grid of squares. What strategies will be useful in coming up with the answer? Jugs: Can you make 4 pints if you only have 3 and 5 pint jugs? Window View: Drag the 20 flowers into the gardens so that 9 flowers are visible from each window of the house. 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 Google 'Custom Search' box below.
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