Puzzles

There are 366 different Starters of The Day, many to choose from. You will find below some starters on the topic of Puzzles. 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 or explore other concepts by using a starter based on a totally different area of Mathematics.

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Puzzles Starters:

9:50 Puzzle

A little lateral thinking might help you solve this puzzle.

All for 100

Can you write an expression for 100 which uses all the digits 1 to 9?

Alphanumbetical

A challenge to find the number which when written as a word has all the letters in alphabetical order.

Arithmagons

This lesson starter requires pupils to find the missing numbers in this partly completed arithmagon puzzle.

Boxing Day

Work out the contents and the cost of the Christmas boxes from the given clues.

Bridge Crossing

The classic puzzle of finding a route which crosses each bridge once.

Broken Calculator (3 and 4)

Some keys are missing from this calculator. Just how useful is it?

Christmas Ornaments

A Maths Starter activity requiring students to arrange Christmas ornaments in a square box.

ClockEquate

Can you use the digits on the left of this clock along with any mathematical operations to equal the digits on the right?

Coins On The Table

A puzzle about the number of coins on a table given information about fractions of them.

Cube Calendar

What numbers should be on each face of the two cubes to make this perpetual calendar?

Don't Touch!

A number placing puzzle which, when solved, raises the notion of proof.

Eleven Plus Two

Rearrange the letters in the expression 'Eleven Plus Two' to make another expression with the same value.

Freemason's Cipher

Find symmetric words in this ancient cipher.

House Numbers

The numbers on five houses next to each other add up to 70. What are those five numbers?

How Do You Do?

A little lateral thinking will help you solve this number puzzle.

How Many Squares? 1

Work out how many squares are there altogether in the given pattern then tackle the chess board.

How Many Squares? 2

How many squares can be found by joining four dots on the grid?

Intents Excitement

Work out the mathematical words missing from the story about buying a tent.

Lemon Law

Change the numbers on the apples so that the number on the lemon is the given total.

Letter Clue Calculations

Work out what the calculations might be from the letter clues.

Loopy Lake

Match the fractions to their decimal equivalents and join them with lines that do not cross.

Match Fish

A classic matchstick puzzle designed to challenge your spacial awareness.

Maths Crossword

A small crossword puzzle containing mathematical words.

Maths In School

Find mathematical words which can be made by using the letters in the name of your school?

Mathster Mind

Guess the four digit number with help from the clues.

Mirror Maths

The bottom half of some symmetrical calculations are shown above. Can you work out the answers?

Missing Pound

A puzzle about a restaurant bill. Exactly where did the missing pound go?

Missing Square Puzzle

The missing square puzzle is an optical illusion used to help students reason about geometrical figures.

Missing Terms

Find the missing terms from these linear sequences.

Mix and Match

Work out which team played which from the information given.

Mystery Numbers

Can you recognise the mystery numbers from the clues?

Mystic Maths

Work out why subtracting a two digit number from its reverse gives a multiple of nine.

News Common

Follow the compass directions given in the squares to find where the route starts?

Nine Digit Sum

Arrange the digits one to nine to make a correct addition calculation.

Not Too Close

This activity requires eight students to sit non consecutively on a grid of chairs.

Noughts and Crosses

In how many different ways can the first X and O by placed on the grid?

One Digit 100

How many ways can you write an expression for 100 which only uses the same digit repeated and any operations?

One Torch Tunnel

Work out the least amount of time for four people to walk through a tunnel?

Paradox

Can you solve this paradox by agreeing whether the statements are right or wrong?

Pentadd

Five numbers are added together in pairs and the sums shown. What might the five numbers be?

Pipeline Puzzle

Arrange the numbers so that the totals of the three numbers along any pipe are the same.

Plus

A number puzzle suitable for children with a wide range of abilities.

Roundabout

Go around the roundabout performing each of the operations. Which starting point gives the largest answer?

Route to Las Vegas

Work out the cheapest way from Los Angeles to Las Vegas by choosing the best route and adding up the given numbers.

Rows of Roses

Can you draw 4 straight lines, without taking your pencil off the paper, which pass through all 9 roses?

Secret Symbol

Place a symbol between the four and the five to get a number greater than four and less than five.

Separated Twins

Can you find a 14 digit number containing two each of the digits one to seven which obeys the rules given?

Sign Sequences

Continue the sequences if you can work out the rule.

Small Satisfaction

Arrange the digits one to nine in the grid so that they obey the row and column headings.

Square Pairs

Arrange the numbered trees so that adjacent sums are square numbers.

Squared Animals

Separate three rows of three animals using three squares.

Sudoku Sum

What is the sum of the numbers missing from the given Sudoku puzzle?

Suko

Interactive number-based logic puzzle similar to those featuring in The Times and Telegraph newspapers.

Sum Equals Product

What are the numbers if their sum equals their product?

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..

THOAN

THOAN stands for 'Think of a number' and there are four randomly generated THOAN puzzles to solve.

Tool Triangle

Place the numbers on the triangle so that the totals along each of the sides are equal.

Two Twins and Tim

A tricky problem set on a coordinate grid.

Upside Number

Work out the phone number from the clues given.

What are they?

A starter about sums, products, differences, ratios, square and prime numbers.

Word Search

Create your own mathematical word search for the whole class to enjoy.

Word Sum

Each letter stands for a different digit. Can you make sense of this word sum?

Advanced Puzzles Starters

 

Exercises

Addle

Addle

Arrange the numbers from 1 to 14 in the spaces to make the sums correct. How fast can you do it?

All For One

All For One

Drag the numbers one to nine onto the outlines of three fractions that combine to make one.

Area Maze

Area Maze

Use your knowledge of rectangle areas to calculate the missing measurement of these composite diagrams.

Area Wall Puzzles

Area Wall Puzzles

Divide the grid into rectangular pieces so that the area of each piece is the same as the number it contains.

Arithmagons

Arithmagons

Find the missing numbers in these triangular, self-checking puzzles and discover the wonders of these fascinating structures.

Awe-Sum

Awe-Sum

Arrange the given digits to make six 3-digit numbers that combine in an awesome way.

Brainbox

Brainbox

A puzzle requiring the arrangement of numbers on the function machines to link the given input numbers to the correct output.

Calculator Words

Calculator Words

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

Car Park Puzzle

Car Park Puzzle

Can you get your car out of the very crowded car park by moving other cars forwards or backwards?

Centexpression

Centexpression

Arrange the numbers from 1 to 9 to make an expression with a value of 100.

Chinese Numbers Jigsaw

Chinese Numbers Jigsaw

An online interactive jigsaw puzzle of a grid of Chinese number symbols.

Circumfraction

Circumfraction

Quite a challenging number placing puzzle involving fractions.

Clue Sudoku

Clue Sudoku

A different way to complete a Sudoku puzzle with clues available at every stage.

Code Cracker

Code Cracker

Crack the code by replacing the encrypted letters in the given text. There are lots of hints provided about code breaking techniques.

Congruent Parts

Congruent Parts

Use the colours to dissect the outlines into congruent parts.

Cryptographic

Cryptographic

Fill in the squares according to the clues given by the string of numbers for each row and column.

Cubical Net Challenge

Cubical Net Challenge

Find all the ways of painting the faces of cubes using only two colours.

Delightfully Divisible

Delightfully Divisible

Arrange the digits one to nine to make a number which is divisible in the way described.

Digivide

Digivide

Arrange the numbers from 1 to 6 in the spaces to make the division calculation correct.

Divisive

Divisive

Arrange the digits one to nine on the spaces provided to make two division calculations containing multiples of three.

Dominoes Puzzle

Dominoes Puzzle

Arrange the dominoes in seven squares. The number of dots along each side of the square must be equal to the number in the middle

Double Treble

Double Treble

Arrange the digits to make three 3 digit numbers such that the second is double the first and the third is three times the first.

Doughnut Dissection

Doughnut Dissection

A puzzle to find four different ways of making 900 by multiplying together three different numbers.

Egg Timers

Egg Timers

The classic hourglass puzzle; Time the boiling of an egg using only the two egg timers provided.

Equatero

Equatero

Find the expression from a series of guesses and clues.

Express Percentage Puzzle

Express Percentage Puzzle

Drag the numbers into the percentage statements to make them true.

Factor Trees Challenge

Factor Trees Challenge

Can you determine the unique digits that will complete these factor trees?

Fleur-De-Lis

Fleur-De-Lis

Click on six fleur-de-lis to leave an even number in each row and column.

Four Sum

Four Sum

Arrange the given number tiles to make two 2 digit numbers that add up to the given total.

Frustration

Frustration

A logic challenge requiring a strategy to update each of the numbers in a grid.

Go Figure

Go Figure

Arrange the digits one to nine to make the four calculations correct.

Goal Products

Goal Products

Arrange the numbered footballs on the goal posts to make three, 3-number products that are all the same.

Groups of Four

Groups of Four

A simplified, mathematical version of the challenge seen in the British TV programme Only Connect. Find the connections between the terms.

Hexagram Star

Hexagram Star

Arrange the twelve numbers on the hexagram so that the numbers in each line add up to the same total.

Hot Number Challenges

Hot Number Challenges

These hot numbers challenges are for students with no access to a computer and are presented in a form suitable to be projected onto a whiteboard in front of a class.

How Many Squares? 2

How Many Squares? 2

How many different sets of four dots can be joined to form a square?

Jugs

Jugs

Can you make four litres if you only have seven and five litre jugs?

Largest Product

Largest Product

A drag and drop activity challenging you to arrange the digits to produce the largest possible product.

Latin Square Puzzles

Latin Square Puzzles

Arrange the given digits to make a Latin square with the given row and column calculation results.

Lemon Law

Lemon Law

Change the numbers on the apples so that the number on the lemon is the given total.

Logic Puzzle

Logic Puzzle

Solve this deduction logic puzzle to find who, where and what.

Ludicross

Ludicross

Arrange the given numbers on the cross so that the sum of the numbers in both diagonals is the same.

Magic Square

Magic Square

Each row, column and diagonal should produce the same sum.

Magic Square Jigsaws

Magic Square Jigsaws

Interactive jigsaw puzzles of four by four magic squares.

Magic Square Puzzle

Magic Square Puzzle

Find all of the possible ways of making the magic total from the numbers in this four by four magic square.

Maths Crossword

Maths Crossword

An interactive mathematical crossword for you to do online. Find the missing words from the given clues.

Mine Find

Mine Find

Find where the mines are hidden without stepping on one.

Mixpressions

Mixpressions

Arrange the cards to create a valid mathematical statement.

Multitude

Multitude

Arrange the given digits to make three numbers such that the third is the product of the first and the second.

Nine Digits

Nine Digits

Arrange the given digits to make three numbers such that two of them add up to the third.

Nine Nine Nine

Nine Nine Nine

Use the digits 1 to 9 to make three 3 digit numbers which add up to 999.

No Partner

No Partner

Find which numbers in a given list do not combine with other numbers on the list to make a given sum.

Not Too Close

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.

Number Jigsaws

Number Jigsaws

Online, interactive jigsaw puzzles of grids of numbers.

Numskull

Numskull

Interactive, randomly-generated, number-based logic puzzle designed to develop numeracy skills.

Octagram Star

Octagram Star

Arrange the sixteen numbers on the octagram so that the numbers in each line add up to the same total.

Olympic Rings

Olympic Rings

Place the digits one to nine in each of the regions created by the Olympic rings so that the sum of the numbers in each ring is the same.

One Digit Only

One Digit Only

Find expressions using only one digit which equal the given targets.

One Torch Tunnel

One Torch Tunnel

Solve the problem of getting four people through a tunnel with one torch in the minimum amount of time.

Online Psychic

Online Psychic

Let the psychic read the cards and magically reveal the number you have secretly chosen. What is the mathematics that makes this trick work?

Online Sudoku

Online Sudoku

An online, interactive version of the popular number placing puzzle.

Overloaded Fraction

Overloaded Fraction

A set of ten puzzles requiring you to arrange the given digits to make an equivalent fraction.

Pancake Day

Pancake Day

Toss the pancakes until they are neatly stacked in order of size. Find how to do this using the smallest number of moves.

Partial Pyramids

Partial Pyramids

Calculate the missing numbers in these partly completed pyramid puzzles.

Partition Clues

Partition Clues

Partition numbers in different ways according to the clues given. The higher levels are quite hard!

Path Puzzle

Path Puzzle

A great puzzle requiring you to use all of the cards to create a continuous red line from start to finish.

Pattern Clues

Pattern Clues

An interactive activity challenging you to reproduce a pattern of coloured squares according to given clues.

Pentadd Quiz

Pentadd Quiz

Find the five numbers which when added or multiplied together in pairs to produce the given sums or products.

Pentominoes

Pentominoes

Arrange the twelve pentominoes in the outline of a rectangle.

Perfect Magic Square

Perfect Magic Square

Arrange the sixteen numbers on the four by four grid so that groups of four numbers in a pattern add up to the same total.

Pick Up Sticks

Pick Up Sticks

If you were to pick up the sticks from this pile so that you were always removing the top stick what calculation would you create?

Plane Numbers

Plane Numbers

Arrange numbers on the plane shaped grid to produce the given totals

Plus

Plus

A number arranging puzzle with seven levels of challenge.

Polygon Pieces

Polygon Pieces

Arrange the nine pieces of the puzzle on the grid to make different polygons.

Power Shift

Power Shift

Arrange the given numbers as bases and indices in the three-term sum to make the target total.

Prime Labyrinth

Prime Labyrinth

Find the path to the centre of the labyrinth by moving along the prime numbers.

Prime Numbers Jigsaw

Prime Numbers Jigsaw

Interactive jigsaw puzzles of different types of grids containing prime numbers.

Prime Square

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.

Product Square

Product Square

Arrange the given numbers in a three by three grid to obtain the diagonal, row and column products.

Pu Wiang

Pu Wiang

A fewest-moves, counter-swapping challenge invented in northern Thailand.

Puzzle Cube Net

Puzzle Cube Net

A jumbled moving-block puzzle cube is shown as a net. Can you solve it?

Pyramid Puzzle

Pyramid Puzzle

Numbers in the bricks are found by adding the two bricks immediately below together. Can you achieve the given target?

Quad Areas

Quad Areas

Calculate the areas of all the possible quadrilaterals that can be constructed by joining together dots on this grid.

River Crossing

River Crossing

The traditional River Crossing challenge. Can you do it in the smallest number of moves?

Roman Numerals Jigsaw

Roman Numerals Jigsaw

An online interactive jigsaw puzzle of a grid of Roman numerals.

Satisfaction

Satisfaction

This is quite a challenging number grouping puzzle requiring a knowledge of prime, square and triangular numbers.

Satisfy

Satisfy

Place the nine numbers in the table so they obey the row and column headings about the properties of the numbers.

Scallywags and Scoundrels

Scallywags and Scoundrels

Arrange the scallywags and scoundrels on the chairs so that the numbers of any two sitting next to each other add up to a prime number.

Scheduling Puzzle

Scheduling Puzzle

Make a schedule for the 24-hour Darts Marathon which will take into account everyone's requests and keep everyone happy.

Scouts in Boats

Scouts in Boats

Arrange a rota for the Scouts to travel in boats so that they are with different people each day.

Separated Twins

Separated Twins

Can you find a 6 digit number containing two each of the digits one to three which obeys the rules given?

Shapes In The Stars

Shapes In The Stars

Join up the stars to find the hidden regular polygons.

Shunting Puzzles

Shunting Puzzles

Move the trams to their indicated parking places in the shunting yard as quickly as possible.

Similar Parts

Similar Parts

Use the colours to dissect the outlines into similar parts.

Spinsum

Spinsum

Arrange the numbers on the squares so that the totals along each line of three squares are equal.

Squorder

Squorder

The Transum version of the traditional sliding tile puzzle.

StatGrid Challenge

StatGrid Challenge

Arrange the numbers one to nine in a three by three grid to obtain the given means, medians and ranges.

Stepwise Sums

Stepwise Sums

Arrange the numbers one to nine on the stairs to obtain the given sums.

Stick Squares

Stick Squares

Arrange the matches to form four squares instead of five.

Suko Sujiko

Suko Sujiko

Interactive number-based logic puzzles similar to those featuring in daily newspapers.

T Puzzle

T Puzzle

Use the pieces of the T puzzle to fit into the outlines provided. A drag, rotate and drop interactive challenge.

Tangram Challenge

Tangram Challenge

A series of tangram challenges in increasing order of difficulty. This page is designed to be projected onto a screen for a whole class to see.

Tangram Table

Tangram Table

Use the pieces of the tangram puzzle to make the basic shapes then complete the table showing which shapes are possible.

Tantrum

Tantrum

A game, a puzzle and a challenge involving counters being placed at the corners of a square on a grid.

Thai Numbers Jigsaw

Thai Numbers Jigsaw

An online interactive jigsaw puzzle of a grid of Thai number symbols.

The Broken Chessboard Puzzle

The Broken Chessboard Puzzle

The chessboard has been broken into 13 pieces. Can you put it back together?

The Miller's Puzzle

The Miller's Puzzle

This is an interactive version of the puzzle described by Henry Ernest Dudeney in The Canterbury Puzzles

Thrice

Thrice

Can you arrange all of the counters on the grid to form 10 lines of three counters?

Tools

Tools

In how many different ways can the numbers be arranged to give the same totals?

Tower of Hanoi

Tower of Hanoi

Move the pieces of the tower from one place to another in the minimum number of moves.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square

Solve the number puzzles drawn on the pavement of Trafalgar Square in London.

Triangled Hexagram

Triangled Hexagram

Arrange the twelve numbers in the triangles on the hexagram so that the numbers in each line of five triangles add up to the same total.

Triside Totals

Triside Totals

Arrange the digits 1 to 9 on the triangle so that the sum of the numbers along each side is equal to the given total.

Truculent

Truculent

Can you arrange the seven counters on the grid despite their truculent behaviour?

Unbeknownst

Unbeknownst

Some picture grid puzzles which can be solved by using simultaneous equations.

Unmagic Square

Unmagic Square

Like the magic square but all of the totals should be different.

Vector Cops

Vector Cops

Help the cops catch the robbers by finding the vectors that will end the chase.

Vocabero

Vocabero

Find the mathematical word from a series of guesses and clues.

Vowelless

Vowelless

Vowels have been taken out of mathematical words. Can you recognise them?

Where's Wallaby?

Where's Wallaby?

Find the hidden wallaby using the clues revealed at the chosen coordinates.

Window View

Window View

Drag the 20 flowers into the gardens so that 9 flowers are visible from each window of the house.

Without Lifting The Pencil

Without Lifting The Pencil

Can you draw these diagrams without lifting your pencil from the paper? This is an interactive version of the traditional puzzle.

Word Search

Word Search

Find the mathematical words in the grid of letters.

Word Sums Guide

Word Sums Guide

A step by step guide showing how to solve a Word Sum where each letter stands for a different digit.

Xmas Ornaments

Xmas Ornaments

A hands on activity requiring students to arrange Christmas ornaments in a square box.

Yohaku Puzzles

Yohaku Puzzles

Fill in the blank spaces so that the cells give the sum or the product shown in each row and column.

Zygo

Zygo

Interactive, randomly-generated, number-based logic puzzle designed to develop numeracy skills.

 

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