Maths Blog » Tips & Tricks

A Maths Puzzle

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:39:16 +0000

Here is a great puzzle for you and your child to have a look at together.

Having fun picking numbers and then have a go at looking at the maths behind it.

This compliments the type of investigative maths your child will be doing at school.

There is some very simple maths behind this puzzle at a level which your child will be able to work out.

Give it a go.

Have some fun and good luck.

CLICK HERE TO TRY THE PUZZLE

Here is an audio showing you how the puzzle works. Click on the puzzle and follow the audio at the same time.

Is it a problem? When it comes to maths do not call it a problem otherwise it will be!

Alan — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:59:24 +0000

The words you use can have a tremendous affect on how we view something.

Do you notice how when a child is given maths homework that the written questions are often called ‘problems’.

How do you feel when you think of a problem?

It is something that you think of as an easy thing to deal with or do you think of a problem as being difficult, an obstacle to be overcome?

A friend of mine asked my advice because he could not motivate his son to do any maths problems at home. After talking to his son I told him that the ‘problem’ is in fact the ‘problem’. The problem was the use of the words ‘maths problems’ and that there was an easy way to motivate his son to enjoy and do maths. Here is what I did.

I set my friend a question for his son and told him to tell his son that had a ‘puzzle’ for him.

Straight away his son’s reaction was different and he attempted to work out the answer. The boy was motivated to solve the ‘puzzle’.

The question I set was taken from an exam paper on which it was called ‘a problem’. There is not a huge difference between the words problem and puzzle in the dictionary but when people speak about those words they dislike problems and yet love puzzles just like my friend’s son did.

If you want your children to do more difficult maths questions at home then don’t call them problems instead call them ‘puzzles’.

Remember to choose your words wisely. They have the power to affect the actions of your children.

9 Times Tables Trick

Tony — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:59:10 +0000

Here is a simple technique for your child to use to learn their 9 x tables.

Key points from the audio:

Advantages

It is easy to follow and a bit of fun.
Your child can find the correct answer without having to learn the Times Tables.
It can make maths more interesting

Disadvantages

This is not the best way to learn your multiplication tables.
You can only use this method for the nine times tables.
Each time your child has to work out a new answer. It is not an instant recall method.
You can’t work out the answer in your head.

However, there is a much better way which uses the amazing power of your memory, and it is easy, fun and provides instant recall. Click here to find out more.