More Plant Spaces

Age

7 to 14

Challenge level

This challenging activity involves finding different ways to distribute fifteen items among four sets, when the sets must include three, four, five and six items.

Thinking mathematically tags

Mathematical mindsets tags

Being curious Being collaborative Being resourceful Being resilient

Problem

This activity has been particularly created as a possible follow-on to More Children and Plants.

Here we look at similar problems of distributing a certain number of items across a larger number of sets, each needing a particular number of items.

So, set yourself a challenge like;

"Distribute 15 objects among four sets having 3 in one, 4 in another, 5 in another and 6 in the last."

Then take this further by having five sets with the extra set having just 1 object.

You'll be able to think of your own examples too.

Perhaps most important is to formulate some generalisations that can be tested.

One of the interesting and creative parts of this challenge may be to design the arrangement of sets. Here are some examples to start you off, two for each of four and five sets.