Maths Mastery

What other (total) numbers of spots are possible with these two ladybirds? How about different spotted ladybirds? Investigate…

Explore for other digits, or 5 starting numbers…

Here are some number sequences you get when you follow certain rules, such as adding digits together and multiplying by 3 or 5… Investigate some other rules…

Could you create a puzzle like this, maybe with different multiples?

You don’t necessarily need a grid for this! For example, with 12 counters you can make a few different rectangles eg 3x4 and 2x6… Extend this to more than 18 counters.

Can you make a puzzle like this?

Make other puzzles like this with different rules…

What if we choose different numbers eg 2 to 7 or evens from 2 to 12? How does this affect the numbers in the centre? What if we change the shape?

So if you can make a square, that is best, followed by rectangle, or failing that, a stick… What can you say about each type of number?

What can you say about Alice’s sums? Extend to longer tracks…

How can you tell is your cards will make a number that can be divided by 3? How can you make this game more challenging or more interesting? Invent some new rules that make it more fun!

Can you see any patterns? Investigate for other stick lengths…

Explore different ways of showing your results.. You might want to start with drawing pictures of odd + even Extend to multiplication… eg what happens when you do odd x even?

Investigate other stuff to do with square numbers… For example, are they odd or even or both? Why? Is there any pattern in the sequence of square numbers? Can you add two square numbers to make other square numbers? Etc etc…

How can we extend this investigation? Change the shape? What else?