Working systematically

  • Leap Frog
    problem

    Leap Frog

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    The brown frog and green frog want to swap places without getting wet. They can hop onto a lily pad next to them, or hop over each other. How could they do it?
  • Snakes
    problem

    Snakes

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Explore the different snakes that can be made using 5 cubes.

  • Multicoloured socks lying next to each other.
    problem

    Mixed-Up Socks

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Start with three pairs of socks. Now mix them up so that no mismatched pair is the same as another mismatched pair. Is there more than one way to do it?

  • Jumping Cricket
    problem

    Jumping Cricket

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    El Crico the cricket has to cross a square patio to get home. He can jump the length of one tile, two tiles and three tiles. Can you find a path that would get El Crico home in three jumps?
  • Yellow, green, purple and blue plastic bears in a line.
    problem

    Teddy Bear Line-Up

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    What is the least number of moves you can take to rearrange the bears so that no bear is next to a bear of the same colour?

  • Briefcase Lock
    problem

    Briefcase Lock

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    My briefcase has a three-number combination lock, but I have forgotten the combination. I remember that there's a 3, a 5 and an 8. How many possible combinations are there to try?
  • Whose Sandwich?
    problem

    Whose Sandwich?

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    Chandra, Jane, Terry and Harry ordered their lunches from the sandwich shop. Use the information below to find out who ordered each sandwich.
  • Mrs Beeswax
    problem

    Mrs Beeswax

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    In how many ways could Mrs Beeswax put ten coins into her three puddings so that each pudding ended up with at least two coins?

  • Routes 1 and 5
    problem

    Routes 1 and 5

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3

    Find your way through the grid starting at 2 and following these operations. What number do you end on?

  • Nineteen Hexagons
    problem

    Nineteen Hexagons

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
    2 out of 3
    In this maze of hexagons, you start in the centre at 0. The next hexagon must be a multiple of 2 and the next a multiple of 5. What are the possible paths you could take?