This problem is based on a code using two different prime numbers
less than 10. You'll need to multiply them together and shift the
alphabet forwards by the result. Can you decipher the code?
Can you put the numbers 1 to 8 into the circles so that the four
calculations are correct?
There are 44 people coming to a dinner party. There are 15 square
tables that seat 4 people. Find a way to seat the 44 people using
all 15 tables, with no empty places.
Using the statements, can you work out how many of each type of
rabbit there are in these pens?
Zumf makes spectacles for the residents of the planet Zargon, who
have either 3 eyes or 4 eyes. How many lenses will Zumf need to
make all the different orders for 9 families?
A game for 2 people. Use your skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to blast the asteroids.
What do you notice about the date 03.06.09? Or 08.01.09? This
challenge invites you to investigate some interesting dates
Try adding together the dates of all the days in one week. Now
multiply the first date by 7 and add 21. Can you explain what
This magic square has operations written in it, to make it into a
maze. Start wherever you like, go through every cell and go out a
total of 15!
Can you arrange 5 different digits (from 0 - 9) in the cross in the
This problem is based on the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Investigate the different numbers of people and rats there could have been if you know how many legs there are altogether!
Katie had a pack of 20 cards numbered from 1 to 20. She arranged
the cards into 6 unequal piles where each pile added to the same
total. What was the total and how could this be done?
A group of children are using measuring cylinders but they lose the
labels. Can you help relabel them?
Use your logical-thinking skills to deduce how much Dan's crisps and ice-cream cost altogether.
Use the information about Sally and her brother to find out how many children there are in the Brown family.
Can you find which shapes you need to put into the grid to make the
totals at the end of each row and the bottom of each column?
There were chews for 2p, mini eggs for 3p, Chocko bars for 5p and
lollypops for 7p in the sweet shop. What could each of the children
buy with their money?
Cherri, Saxon, Mel and Paul are friends. They are all different
ages. Can you find out the age of each friend using the
Have a go at balancing this equation. Can you find different ways of doing it?
What is happening at each box in these machines?
Can you see why 2 by 2 could be 5? Can you predict what 2 by 10
Put operations signs between the numbers 3 4 5 6 to make the highest possible number and lowest possible number.
This multiplication uses each of the digits 0 - 9 once and once only. Using the information given, can you replace the stars in the calculation with figures?
Can you work out some different ways to balance this equation?
The Scot, John Napier, invented these strips about 400 years ago to
help calculate multiplication and division. Can you work out how to
use Napier's bones to find the answer to these multiplications?
Four Go game for an adult and child. Will you be the first to have four numbers in a row on the number line?
Where can you draw a line on a clock face so that the numbers on
both sides have the same total?
Can you work out how many flowers there will be on the Amazing Splitting Plant after it has been growing for six weeks?
On the planet Vuv there are two sorts of creatures. The Zios have 3 legs and the Zepts have 7 legs. The great planetary explorer Nico counted 52 legs. How many Zios and how many Zepts were there?
There were 22 legs creeping across the web. How many flies? How many spiders?
This task combines spatial awareness with addition and multiplication.
Can you complete this calculation by filling in the missing numbers? In how many different ways can you do it?
Shut the Box game for an adult and child. Can you turn over the cards which match the numbers on the dice?
Use the information to work out how many gifts there are in each
Can you work out the arrangement of the digits in the square so
that the given products are correct? The numbers 1 - 9 may be used
once and once only.
This number has 903 digits. What is the sum of all 903 digits?
Use your logical reasoning to work out how many cows and how many
sheep there are in each field.
An old game but lots of arithmetic!
Amy has a box containing domino pieces but she does not think it is a complete set. She has 24 dominoes in her box and there are 125 spots on them altogether. Which of her domino pieces are missing?
Find the next number in this pattern: 3, 7, 19, 55 ...
This group activity will encourage you to share calculation
strategies and to think about which strategy might be the most
At the beginning of May Tom put his tomato plant outside. On the
same day he sowed a bean in another pot. When will the two be the
If the numbers 5, 7 and 4 go into this function machine, what
numbers will come out?
Can you order the digits from 1-6 to make a number which is
divisible by 6 so when the last digit is removed it becomes a
5-figure number divisible by 5, and so on?
Choose a symbol to put into the number sentence.
Explore Alex's number plumber. What questions would you like to ask? What do you think is happening to the numbers?
Twizzle, a female giraffe, needs transporting to another zoo. Which
route will give the fastest journey?
Start by putting one million (1 000 000) into the display of your
calculator. Can you reduce this to 7 using just the 7 key and add,
subtract, multiply, divide and equals as many times as you like?
Tom and Ben visited Numberland. Use the maps to work out the number
of points each of their routes scores.
Here are the prices for 1st and 2nd class mail within the UK. You have an unlimited number of each of these stamps. Which stamps would you need to post a parcel weighing 825g?