Plane Numbers

A self-checking, interactive version of this activity with 30 different puzzles is here.

Starter of The Day Transum Mathematics Privacy Policy

Topics: Starter | Arithmetic | Number | Problem Solving

K Hudson, Drigg
Looks easy but proved quite tricky. Nice one!
Helen McKenna, Elgin
Hard to start, but then easy. We found 10 different solutions in 5 minutes.
Class 2, Blackboys Primary School
Ethan Peck found it a tough challenge, but soon got the hang of it. "It was really fun but tricky," says Poppy. "I enjoyed the challenge and found 1 solution," commented Kizzifer Budd. Top challenge.
Mr M's Year 7s, CCS, Bali
We noticed that you can only have an odd number in the middle (ie. 1,3 or 5). The total number is either 11,12 or 13 depending on what number you put in the middle. Great starter, thanks. :D.
John Paul Academy, Glasgow
Enjoyed but kinda difficult!
Paula, Coln House
I teach in a SEBD secondary school, these starters help the classes to settle and they (the pupils) (mostly) enjoy the challenge. Sometimes we might spend longer on a problem if the pupils are very engaged.
If we vote on a starter I always ask for their input and comments.
For more practical starters we often cut up paper and model the problem, I find this helps , I also try to create a sense of controlled urgency as this helps the pupils concentrate and focus.
Sometimes the starters are too complex, or wordy, so I quickly search and find a more appropriate problem.
I think these starters are very useful as you can extract lots of mathematics from them to suit your particular level, style and type of class.
Thank you.
Mrs Clay's Y5 Maths Set GMS, Bedfordshire
We found three possible solutions, because we would not allow jiggling of the digits eg we think 4+1+6= 2+1+3+5 is the same as 6+1+4= 3+1+2+5 and the digit used twice must be odd. :)
4+1+6 = 2+1+3+5
5+3+4 = 6+3+2+1
6+5+2 = 4+5+1+3.
Dan's Dad, Milton Keynes, UK
There's a reason why the number in the middle must be odd:
First add up all the numbers: 1+2+3+4+5+6=21
If you put an odd number in the middle, for example 1, the numbers that are left now add up to 20.
And 20 can be split into two equal halves of 10
i.e. 6+4 and 2+3+5 both equal 10
So your solution is
6+1+4 = 2+1+3+5
Using any odd number in the middle will leave you with equal halves to share up and across
If you try it with a 2 in the middle, you are left with the numbers#
1+ 3+4+5+6=19
And 19 cannot be shared equally up and across.
Mr Eagle, Eagletown
My mixed year 5/6 thought it was an absolute doddle. They thoroughly enjoyed the compexities of this challenge and look forward to the next one!
Mr. Townsend, Harmondsworth Primary Y3/4
We found one solution as a starter activity. We used 4, 3, 5 in the vertical column and 1,3,2,6 in the horizontal. It was challenging!

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Answers

Here are all of the 36 possible solutions.

	2
1	5	3	4
	6

	2
1	5	4	3
	6

	2
3	5	1	4
	6

	2
3	5	4	1
	6

	2
4	5	1	3
	6

	2
4	5	3	1
	6

	4
1	3	2	6
	5

	4
1	3	6	2
	5

	4
2	1	3	5
	6

	4
2	1	5	3
	6

	4
2	3	1	6
	5

	4
2	3	6	1
	5

	4
3	1	2	5
	6

	4
3	1	5	2
	6

	4
5	1	2	3
	6

	4
5	1	3	2
	6

	4
6	3	1	2
	5

	4
6	3	2	1
	5

	5
1	3	2	6
	4

	5
1	3	6	2
	4

	5
2	3	1	6
	4

	5
2	3	6	1
	4

	5
6	3	1	2
	4

	5
6	3	2	1
	4

	6
1	5	3	4
	2

	6
1	5	4	3
	2

	6
2	1	3	5
	4

	6
2	1	5	3
	4

	6
3	1	2	5
	4

	6
3	1	5	2
	4

	6
3	5	1	4
	2

	6
3	5	4	1
	2

	6
4	5	1	3
	2

	6
4	5	3	1
	2

	6
5	1	2	3
	4

	6
5	1	3	2
	4

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	Teacher, do your students have access to computers? Do they have iPads or Laptops in Lessons? Whether your students each have a TabletPC, a Surface or a Mac, this activity lends itself to eLearning (Engaged Learning).

Here a concise URL for a version of this page without the comments.

Transum.org/go/?Start=February3

Here is the URL which will take them to a related student activity.

Transum.org/go/?to=plane