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

"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!"

Claire Erving, Clapham
Wednesday, January 17, 2007

 

"Excellent preparation for Yr 7 equation work See Badger Starters and Constructing Linear Equations pack"

Sue Johnson,
Thursday, January 18, 2007

 

"A really fun way to start the day!"

class 5 6 a, St Catherines
Tuesday, January 08, 2008

 

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This starter has scored a mean of 4.3 out of 5 based on 65 votes.
 

  

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The largest possible total is 61
The smallest possible total is 35
Teacher, do your students have one to one access to computers?

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

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

 

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