Topics: Starter | Arithmetic | Place Value | Problem Solving | Puzzles

• Jake, Patana
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• I have found * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * x * = * * *
• Lewis Crosby, Doncaster
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• I have found one too * * * - * * - * * + * - * = * * *
• Sarah, Maidenhead
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• Another solution for this is * * + * * - * - * + * - * - * = * * *
• Katrina, Maidenhead
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• I have got found another solution for this starter =
  * x * x * + * - * + * + * - * + *
• Holly, Whitby High, Ellesmere Port
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• Another Solution: ( * x * )+( * x * )+( * x * )+ * + * + * = * * *
• Reece & Ashlee, Ellesmere Port
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• Two more solutions without brackets from Whitby High:
  
  * * * - * - * - * - * + * - * = * * *
  
  * * + * * + * + * - * - * - * = * * *
• James Wellington-Smith, Lea Moor High
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• * * * -( * x * )-( * x * )- * - *
• Mr Heeley's Krew, Rawthorpe in da Hudd of field
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• We found ( * + * + * + * ) x * + ( * + * ) - ( * + * ).
  
  We think that this is the best answer because simplicity is the key!
  
  Cushtie - please, please, please, please, please put us on the site.
  
  God bless you - Maths rocks
• Year 6, BIS Jakarta
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• We found many solutions including
  * * * * * + * + * + * + * + * - * = * * *
  * * * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * = * * *
  * * * + * * * - * * * + * + * + * = * * *
• Year 11- Mr Kelly's class, Cross and Passion College
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• We found another solution for ALL FOR * * *
  
  * * + * - * + * - * + * - * - * = * * *
• Giovanni Fernandez, The British School of Quito, Ecuador
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• * x ( * x * x * - * * * ) + * + *
• Tim Channer, The British School of Quito, Ecuador
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• ( * x * ) + ( * x * ) - ( * x * ) + ( * x * x * )
• Montae, Mrs. Shelburne's Period 3/6 class, Hayward Middle School, Springfield, Ohio
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• Here is Montae's solution...he found it in less than * minutes and creatively used exponents!
  
  * ^ * x * - * + * + * - * + * - *
• Ashleigh Reid, S2 Lochend Community High School
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• I found this way of getting the answer:
  
  * * + * + * - * + * - * + * - *
• Ciaran Donegan, Harrytown High School, Stockport, 8H
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• I found ( * * + * + * ) x * - * - * + * - *
• Mrs Simpson, Torry Academy, Aberdeen
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• * D * Maths Class at Torry Acadmey found this way:
  
  * * + * + * - * +( * * * )- * + *
• Andy Rowe, Knowles Hill School Devon
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• Cameron Houdmont in Year * got this one
  
  ( * + * ) x * + * + * + * + * - * - *
• Ms Winters, Dubai English Speaking College
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• Here are our answers from class * DE...
  
  * x * + * + * + * + * + * + * + *
  
  * x * x * + * * + * +( * - * )- *
  
  * x * + * + * + * x * -( * x * - * )
• Miss Train, Saints Peter and Paul
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• The first to get it in my class was Emma M in under * * seconds - here's her solution:
  [( * + * + * + * ) x * ] + * + * + * - * = * * *
• Jodie, Lauren, Hayley, Harrytown High School Stockport
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• * * * + * * - * * + * - * Jodie Reilly * T
  * * - * - * + * + * + * + * + * Lauren Hill * W
  ( * + * + * + * + * )x * - * + * + * Hayley Ryder * H
• Jack Houghton, Sydney, Australia
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• I got * * * + * * - * * + * - *
• Martin Vaughn, Central Sussex college haywards heath
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• * x * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * = * * *
• Jonathan, Holland Road
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• the answer is
  * * + * * + * * - * + * - *
• Miss Mian, Bishop Ramsey School, Ruislip
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• Daniela got the total by doing
  * * + * * + * * - * + * - *
  
  and Amy got it by doing
  
  ( * x * ) + * + * + * + * + * + * + *
• Josh Atkin, Dunbar Grammar
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• The answer is
  ( * * - * ) + * - * + * - * + * + * = * * *

 

• Mark Daniels, Wissahickon Middle School
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• Nicole from Mr. Daniels' Pre-Alg. Support class,WMS, Ambler,PA did this-
  * ( * + * + * ) + * ( * + * + * + * )
  
  Mr. Daniels offered this-
  * ^ * + ( * x * - * ) + * * -( * + * )
• Mrs Simpson and class 4M4, Torry Academy, Aberdeen
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• Vincent found * * * - * * * - * - * x *
  Emma found * x * x * - * + * + * - * + * - *
  Shelby found * x * + * * + * + * - * + * x *
  Jasmine found * x * +( * x * )- * - * - * - * + *
• Liam Hutchison, Lochend Community High School in Glasgow
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• I calculated it this way
  
  ( * x * ) + * + * + ( * x * ) + ( * x * ) + *
• Ellen Moore, KNGS, Birmingham,UK
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• This works!
  ( * + * )-( * + * )+( * + * )+( * + * )* * = * * *
• Miss Samantha Rhodes, Filsham Valley school, Hastings
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• In * class, I had * different correct solutions.
  * x * + * * + * - * * + * + * = * * * (Charlotte Avery, year * )
  * x * * + * * - * * - * + * = * * * (Sam Davies, year * )
  * x * x * + * x * +( * - * + * )x * = * * * (Sophie Fairall, year * )
  * x * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * = * * * (Charlotte Rudd, year * )
  * * * - * * + * * - * - * = * * * (James Bisson, year * )
• Mr Jordan Fry, Laurence Jackson School, Guisbrough
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• We got * * * = * * , * * + * = * * , * * * * = * * * , * * * - * = * * , * * + * = * * * , * * * - * = * * , * * + * = * * *
• Emma, Lockerbie Academy
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• * * + * * + * - * - * + * - * - * = * * *
• Soumya, Croydon
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• * + * x * + * + * + * + * + * - * = * * * .
• Form 7Y, Harrytown Catholic High School, Stockport
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• Amy Booth found * x * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * = * * *
  James Wilson ( * x * ) + * + * + * + ( * x * ) - ( * X * ) = * * * .
• Miss Marcham And 10f1, Prince Henry's High School, Evesham
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• We got ( * + * )x( * + * - * + * - * - * )x * = * * * .
• Mrs J A Thompson, Mexborough School Specialist Science College
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• Two different answers were found in * * minutes. * P SPECTRUM group
  The first was * + * + * + * + * + * + * + ( * x * ) = * * * by Ashley Finney
  and ( * + * + * ) x * + * + ( * x * )- ( * x * ) = * * * by Emma Rodgers.
• Mitchel, Brocket
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• Another way of doing it is
  * - * = * , * - * = * , * - * = * , * - * = * , then
  * + * + * + * = * * x * = * * * .
• Y Ramsamy, Phoenix College, Reading, UK
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• My pupils came up with the following solutions:
  ( * * * - * - * - * - * - * )+ * = * * * Ryan Walsh
  ( * x * x * x * )+ * + * + * + * + * = * * * Moin Khan
  Y Ramsamy
  Phoenix College, Reading, UK
• Jerry & Tom, Fukien School (HK)
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• ( * + * x * x * )x * - * * * + * + * = * * * .
• Thomas, Cabrach
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• This wasn't easy but I found
  * x * + * +( * x * )- * + * + * - * = * * * .
• Grade 12 Advanced Functions, Port Hope High School, Ontario, Canada
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• Connor found * x * x * - * - * - * - * + * + *
  Brandon found * * x * - * - * - * + * + * - *
  Brandon found * x * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * .
• Mrs Barnett & 8x1, Bredon Hill Middle School, Evesham
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• Our simplest answer was ( * x * )+ * + * + * + * + * + * + * = * * * .
• Greg Patko Yr8, Murray Park, Derby
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• ( * + * ) x * - * x * + * x * + * - *
  ( * + * + * + * + * + * - * - * ) x * .
• Mike Drewniak, Kewaskum Middle School
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• Dinara found: * * + * * - * * - * - * + * .
• Beacon Community College, Crowborough, 8XMa3
•  
• ( * + * )x * + * + * + * + * + * - * = * * * .
• David Clowes, St Peter's Academy
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• I got * x * x * - * x * - * - * + * - * .
• Max, Hethersett Junior
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• * * x * + * * + * - * + * - * = * * * .
• 9 (the Better Half) 1, Chellaston Academy, Derbyshire
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• Anneli and Molly: * ( * + * )+ * + * + * + * +( * - * )
  May: * ( * x * - * - * + * - * - * + * )
  Rhys: * x * + * x * + * + * x * + * x *
  David: * ( * * * - * * * )+ * + *
  Eve: * x * + * * + * - * - * - * - *
  Ashley: * x * + * + * + * + * x * - * x * .
• 7ax1, Alexandra Park School, London
•  
• Susie, Vinesha and Tommy : * x * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * = * * *
  Semi ( * + * + * + * + * ) x * + ( * + * ) - * = * * *
  Kira and Simon * * * - * * * + * + * + * = * * *
  Ben * * + * + * + * + * - * - * - * = * * *
  Seb * * * - * * - * * + * * = * * *
  Lottie * x * x * - ( * x * ) - ( * x * ) - * + * = * * *
  Peter ( * + * + * ) x * - * - * - * + * x * = * * * .
• Australia Class, Cottam, Preston, England
•  
• Our class found * ways to solve this puzzle:
  * x * = * * +( * x * )= * * +( * + * )= * * * - * = * * + * x * = * * *
  The next idea is: * + * = * * X * = * * + * = * * + * = * * * + * = * * * + * = * * * - * = * * * - * = * * * .

 

• RM, UK
•  
• I have found: * x * x * + * x * + * x * + * + * = * * * .
• Abi T, St Peter's Y6 Maths Group
•  
• ( * x * )x * + * + * + ( * x * )- ( * + * ).
• Miss Brook, Crick Primary School
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• William - Year * - * x * = * * + * x * - * - * - + * + * x *
  Ethan - Year * - * x * x * - * - * - * - * - * x * .
• Taeh, Croydon
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• I found out that you can do * x * which equals * * and then you add * + * + * + * + * + * + * = * * then * * and * * equals * * * .
• Sophie Tune, Kingswinford England
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• I got * + * + * + * + * x * ( * * * )- * + * - * .
• Matthew Zhao, 4AD, Craigslea State School
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• Matthew Zhao here, coming with with a personal answer in two minutes!
  * * * * + * + * + * + * - * - * = * * * .
  (P.S. I'm in Grade Four).
• Mr Macready, Jersey
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• Sarah here in Jersey Year * . * came up with ( * * + * )+( * x * )- * * - * - *
  Some of the others came up with answers like * * . * , which aren't * * * last time I checked!
• Gurdev Rayet, Holyheadschool
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• I found * x * + * + * + * + * + * + * + * which makes * * * .
• Mr. Van, Sweden
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• We did it!
• Shaa, India
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• It's really cool, do you want to see more?
  
  _ _ +_ _+_ _ = _ _+ _= * * *
  
  Fill in the blanks with the numbers from * to * without repeating.
• , Myrtleford
•  
• I have managed to find a way of getting so many firstly you two numbers to be a ninety type number aka * and * then you add to make * * * so in this case * then you the rest of the numbers to add and subtract what you have added on so now it's * * + * + * - * - * + * - * - * making countless ways of doing it!!

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