Tricky Maths (But Fun)

[Olly]

I was reading about the boy teacher who was sacked because he tried to make maths fun but went too far for the authorities.
I think it's a disgrace and that his ideas should be introduced to the NI curriculum.

'I took a nap in a bog one day and woke up screaming. 3796 leeches, 2910 fleas and 1044 vampire bats were stuck to my bald head drinking my blood in ecstasy. How many bloodthirsty bloodsuckers were dining on my head?'

'John's father gave him 1359 marbles on his birthday. John swallowed 585 marbles and died. 9 of John's friends came for his funeral the next day. John's grieving father gave the remaining marbles to John's friends in equal numbers. How many marbles did each friend get?'






Are there any local maths puzzles that'll make maths fun for our primary school children like these?

[Orior]

2+2=6 for really big values of 2.

I've added this visualisation for you:

2 + 2 = 6

[GJL]

4squared is 16

3-1=2

16 +2=18

18+6=24

[Gaffer]

Countdown style.

Get 24 from the following numbers;

1, 3, 4 & 6

Not too hard. Yis have 5 mins. From now. Using all numbers obviously.

Was going to ask would 23 do ye!

[ONeill]

6 divided by (1-3 divided by 4)

Or

6/0.25

[ONeill]

Rearrange these words:

Hole Up It Shove Your

[Tony Baloney]

The missus makes us try to get 24 from car registrations whilst out for a drive.

[cornerback]

Shot!
Dodgy use of brackets though.

6 divided by [1 - (3 divided by 4)]

Can you use fractions in countdown?

[imtommygunn]

Whole numbers only!!

[GJL]

4squared is 16

3-1=2

16 +2=18

18+6=24

Can you square in Countdown? If so, my bad, take another 5 mins.

Add, subtract, multiply or divide only.

Booooo. Hisssss.

[cornerback]

Shot!
Dodgy use of brackets though.

6 divided by [1 - (3 divided by 4)]

Can you use fractions in countdown?

You are allowed to divide 3 by 4, if that's what you're asking.

In fact, the answer is yes. Why the fcuk would you not be allowed to??

Never seen fractions used before. You seem certain so I'll take your word on it.

[Tony Baloney]

24 from 4, 7, 8 and 8.

[ONeill]

4+7-8x8

fcuk sake. You could have mixed the numbers about like.

[saffron sam2]

24 from 4, 7, 8 and 8.

(8 x 7) - (8 x 4)

Any hard sums?

[AZOffaly]

8-7 =1 4-1 =3 x 8 = 24.