Maths for Fun
Perhaps you’ve never associated maths with the concept of ‘fun’, but we all remember how engrossed we could become as young children in completing a jigsaw or how satisfying it was to work out the answer to a riddle or puzzle.
Working on puzzles has enormous benefits for us, at any age, including:
- giving our brain a ‘work-out’;
- improving our visual-spatial reasoning;
- encouraging greater attention to detail;
- improving memory;
- improving our problem-solving ability;
- increasing productivity;
- opportunities to collaborate with others and improve teamwork.
Not least, if we find the solution, it is extremely satisfying and rewarding. So why not click on a few of the links below and have some fun!
UKMT Maths Challenges
In Year 9, 11, 13 and 14 pupils have the opportunity to compete in the Mathematical Challenges, run by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust. These challenges are the most popular school mathematics competitions and through them the Trust aims to inspire pupils to have a love of problem-solving. Pupils compete against entrants from all over the world and may attain a gold, silver or bronze certificate. For particularly high scores pupils may be given the opportunity to take part in the next round of the competition, called the Kangaroo. In Year 9 pupils can enter the junior competition (JMC), Year 11 Further Maths students can take the Intermediate Challenge (IMC) and all A level Maths pupils can enter the Senior Maths Challenge (SMC).
To prepare for the Challenge, or just for fun, try some past questions found at the links below:
Junior
https://www.ukmt.org.uk/competitions/solo/junior-mathematical-challenge/archive
Intermediate
https://www.ukmt.org.uk/competitions/solo/intermediate-mathematical-challenge/archive
Senior
https://www.ukmt.org.uk/competitions/solo/senior-mathematical-challenge/archive
