Working systematically

problem

Creating Cubes

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

Arrange 9 red cubes, 9 blue cubes and 9 yellow cubes into a large 3 by 3 cube. No row or column of cubes must contain two cubes of the same colour.
problem

Plates of Biscuits

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

Can you rearrange the biscuits on the plates so that the three biscuits on each plate are all different and there is no plate with two biscuits the same as two biscuits on another plate?
problem

A-Magical Number Maze

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

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!
problem

Home Time

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

Alice's mum needs to go to each child's house just once and then back home again. How many different routes are there? Use the information to find out how long each road is on the route she took.
problem

Seven Pots of Plants

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

There are seven pots of plants in a greenhouse. They have lost their labels. Perhaps you can help re-label them.
problem

A Square Deal

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

Complete the magic square using the numbers 1 to 25 once each. Each row, column and diagonal adds up to 65.
problem

Eight Queens

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

Place eight queens on an chessboard (an 8 by 8 grid) so that none can capture any of the others.
problem

Elf Suits

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

If these elves wear a different outfit every day for as many days as possible, how many days can their fun last?
problem

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

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!
problem

Adding Plus

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

2 out of 3

Can you put plus signs in so this is true? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 = 99 How many ways can you do it?