Multiplication & Division

"Get the Buzz! Problem Solving for Key Stage 2" is a series of engaging mathematical challenges designed to enhance the problem-solving skills of children. One task, "Dog Bowls," invites students to distribute 28 dog biscuits across three bowls, with each bowl containing double the amount of the previous one. The problem evolves as the number of bowls increases to four, with each bowl holding two more biscuits than the previous. A further variation challenges pupils to use five bowls, with four containing different odd numbers of biscuits, and prompts them to consider if a different total number of biscuits could be used to satisfy all conditions.

Another problem, "Design," requires students to consider various combinations of triangles and quadrilaterals that total 36 sides. They must explore the possibilities of different shapes and combinations, and the problem extends to consider a total of 42 sides and the inclusion of pentagons, which adds complexity and opens up more potential solutions. The "Flowers" problem is a similar exercise in combinatorial logic, where students must figure out the different possible totals of flowers that could be moved using buckets holding 3, 4, or 8 flowers each, and then identify patterns in their solutions. The tasks not only test mathematical concepts such as multiplication, division, and geometry but also encourage logical thinking and creativity.