Roly Poly **

The dots on opposite faces of a die add up to 7.

1. Imagine rolling one die.

The score is the total number of dots you can see.

You score 17.

Which number is face down?

How did you work out your answer?

2. Imagine rolling two dice.

The dice do not touch each other.

The score is the total number of dots you can see.

Which numbers are face down to score 30?

Roly Poly Solution

1. The total number of dots on the dice is 21. Of these dots 17 are showing, so the face with 4 dots is face down.

2. The total number of dots on two dice is 42, so 12 dots are hidden. The two hidden faces must each have 6 dots.

Money Bags Solution

Ram put 1p, 2p, 4p and 8p in the four bags.

Any sum from 1p to 15p can be made with

these amounts.

Money Bags ***

Ram divided 15 pennies among four small bags.

He could then pay any sum of money from 1p to

15p, without opening any bag.

How many pennies did Ram put in each bag?

Tip:  Use real coins to help you.

More Challenging Magic Squares Solution

Magic Square 111:

24	18	32	3	11	23
2	25	4	27	22	31
34	9	1	10	36	21
6	26	30	28	5	16
33	14	29	8	20	7
12	19	15	35	17	13

Magic number = 111

Use the numbers 1 to 36

Magic Square 12:  

5	0	7
6	4	2
1	8	3

More Challenging Magic Squares Correction

I must apologize for the error on my recent post.  The second challenge is not possible with the 4 in a corner.  Please see the amended challenge below.  Well done to all those who persevered to try to find a solution to an impossible problem.

Test your perseverance:  Complete this magic square so that it has a magic number of 12.  Fill in the squares using the numbers 0 to 8.  It will require some trial and improvement.

1

Helpful Hint:  Draw the 3x3 grid.  Then cut out little squares of paper with the numbers on them so you can move them around on the grid to try different possibilities until you find the solution.

More Challenging Magic Squares ***

A magic square is a square grid where the numbers in each horizontal, vertical and diagonal line add to the same number.  This number is called the magic number.  Try to complete these more challenging magic squares.

Magic Square 111:

	18				23
	25		27	22	31
34	9	1	10		21
6		30	28		16
	14	29	8	20
		15	35	17	13

Magic number = 111

Use the numbers 1 to 36

Test your perseverance:  Complete this magic square so that it has a magic number of 12.  Fill in the squares using the numbers 0 to 8.  It will require some trial and improvement.

4

Helpful Hint:  Draw the 3x3 grid.  Then cut out little squares of paper with the numbers on them so you can move them around on the grid to try different possibilities until you find the solution.

A Game for the New Year * to ***

Make it a New Year's Resolution to improve your knowlege of Maths facts.  Here is a game that can be played by all ages and abilities to practice addition, subtraction or multiplication facts.  Choose the operation and numbers that best suit your purpose. 

Maths War

Equipment:

Playing cards (Ace=1, J=10, Q=11, K=12)

(Use the values appropriate for your child’s ability.  Perhaps you would just start with values 1-5.)

Instructions (for an addition game):

1) Players divide cards equally between themselves.

2) Each player turns over two cards and adds them together (either by counting the pictures on the cards or mentally).  The player with the highest sum gets all the cards and places them at the bottom of their pile.  Younger children can count the symbols on their cards to find the total while older children can try to do the sum mentally.

3) In the event of a tie (both players have the same sum), war is declared.  Each player deals out three more cards face down and then turns over two more cards.  These two cards are added together.  The highest sum wins all the cards. 

4) Play continues until one player has collected all the cards, or to a given time limit.

Variation:

Vary the number of cards to change the level of difficulty.

     Ex. Choose three cards per player 23 + 6

        or five cards per player 534 + 24

Make a Century Solution

Congratulations to Ross Judson in Year 5 who solved the Make a Century challenge!

Here are four possible solutions:

123 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 + 8 - 9 = 100

123 - 45 - 67 + 89 = 100

[1 x (2 + 3) x 4 x 5] + 6 - 7 - 8 + 9 = 100

(1 x 2 x 3) - (4 x 5) + (6 x 7) + (8 x 9) = 100