Mathematics Puzzles
A list of mathematics puzzles designed to engage, enthuse and challenge mathematics students.
Thinking Puzzles
This resource contains ten ‘puzzles to get the brain working!’
Each puzzle is designed to make students think laterally, consider the question carefully and not give the most obvious answer. The puzzles could be used as lesson starter questions.
The resource concludes with a page of solutions.
Challengers A
The mathematics covered includes number puzzles such as finding the missing numbers in number sequences, the missing numbers in calculations, investigating consecutive, odd, even and square numbers, place value, arithmagons, magic squares, adding and subtracting using movements on a hundred square grid, making a ready reckoner, scores on a dartboard and money puzzles.
There are also a number of puzzles exploring shape, space and measures such as forming parallelograms and other shapes from triangles, counting triangles in a pentagon, dissecting a cross puzzles, activities exploring measures, routes on a grid, time puzzles and a variety of tangram puzzles.
Starters and Puzzles
30 starters and puzzles along with a version of forbidden words, a game where a student has to select a card and communicate a given word to others without using any of the forbidden words written on the card.
Number Puzzles 1
In this collection of number puzzles students are challenged to find the missing numbers using the information given.
Each puzzle follows the same format of where, in each column or row, the number with an arrow shows the sum of the numbers following, and each different colour represents a different digit. The size or type of the numbers required is given in the name of the puzzle.
Number Puzzles 2
A second collection of number puzzles in which students find missing numbers each of which is depicted by a different colour. The product of the numbers at the corners of each triangle or quadrilateral is equal to the number in the middle. The magnitude or quantity of numbers required is given in the title of the puzzle.
Eigen Square - Teachers' Notes
This is a great resource. A little time needs to be invested into making the eigen squares, but once you have them they can be used in a variety of ways.
Print out number cards, place them back to back and laminate. Make sure the finished eigen square can be folded easily.
Students each have an eigen square. As students to fold up the square tio show a square number, a triangle number, a prime number, a multiple of five... the options are endless.
This is a great starter activity.
2011 Junior Mathematical Challenge
This UKMT is a multiple choice contest, in which students are presented with five alternative answers, of which just one is correct.
The solutions given here are full solutions with all steps explained. They have also been extended. In some cases alternative solutions are given, and there are some extension problems included for further investigations.
Intermediate Mathematical Challenge
This UKMT challenge is a multiple choice contest in which students are presented with five alternative answers, of which just one is correct. It follows that often the correct answers can found by working backwards from the given alternatives, or by showing that four of them are not correct.
Questions from the Intermediate Challenge can be used as enrichment material in the classroom across the ability range.
2010 Senior Mathematics Challenge
This UKMT challenge is a multiple choice contest in which students are presented with five alternative answers, of which just one is correct. It follows that often students can find the correct answers by working backwards from the given alternatives or by showing that four of them are not correct.
The challenges are accompanied by solutions. The solutions for each question include a complete solution which does not use the fact that one of the given alternatives is correct.