Find out about the Mayan number system: mental arithmetic problem-solving.
The Mayans wrote their numbers vertically, with each 'digit' being represented by either a set of dots and horizontal lines. They also had a symbol for zero. The value of a dot is 1, a line represents 5. The highest dots and lines represent 20s, ie one dot is 20, two dots is 40 etc.

Click underneath a number to reveal its value.

M1: Work out how the Mayan number system works by looking at these addition sums.
M2: Mayan counting: this will reveal how the Mayan numbers work. Click on the up and down buttons to increase or decrease the number by one.
M3: More addition sums: click underneath the number to show its value.
M4: Harder addition sums (numbers up to 50)
M5: Random Mayan numbers less than 50 : click on the 'change' button.
M6: Random Mayan numbers from 50 to 99
M7: Random Mayan numbers from 100 to 399
M8: Mayan times-tables
M9: Mayan number sequences

Number sequences: formulas

A repeating pattern is made from squares and circles. How many squares will there be with 17 circles? How many circles with 20 squares?

Use the slider to determine the number of squares.

M10: Pattern 1
M11: Pattern 2

 

A fence is made from posts and bars. How many bars will there be with 20 posts?

M12: Fence 1 (two bars between each pair of posts).
M13: Fence 2 (three bars between each pair of posts).

M14: Circle three numbers that add up to make....

M15: Use five cards to make this sum correct

M16: Solve simple equations

M17: Complete this table of values

M18: Missing digits: SAT type questions

M19: Missing numbers, SAT type questions: using a calculator

M20: Work out the distance from A to B
eg. If the distance from A to B is seven times as far as from B to C (see example on the left)

M21: Wall puzzles

The number on a brick is either the sum, difference or product of the two numbers below. Drag the numbers on to the wall. When the numbers are in the right place the polygon characters will spin round. There are 6 levels of difficulty: level 1, five numbers have to be placed on the wall, level 6, all ten numbers have to be dragged to the wall.

Use these buttons to decide how the numbers are worked out.
The choices are: the sum, the difference or a mixture (product, sum, difference).

Select the level with the slider. Click on 'go'.

Click on the 'change' button to quickly generate a new wall puzzle.

Shape Puzzles
Work out the value of each shape. The total for each row and column is shown. Use the sliders to input your answers. Click on the 'check' button to see how many are correct.
The shapes will be watching you!

M22: Shape Puzzle 1
Three of the same shape can appear in a row (see the example on the left, three hexagons are in the top row.

M23: Shape Puzzle 2
Three of the same shape will not appear in a row.

M24: Shape Puzzle 3
The solutions can be negative numbers.

Number puzzles

M25: Sum puzzle
What are the numbers in the circles?

 

M38: Another sum puzzle
The three numbers in each line must add up to the same total. The total can be shown or hidden.
The number options are: 1. Small whole numbers 2. Multiples of ten 3. Decimals 4 Positive and negative numbers.
Use the other buttons to show a few puzzles or just one.

Multiplication tables
Complete this multiplication table

M26: Multiplication table 1
M27: Multiplication table 2 more difficult

Magic Squares
Complete the magic squares

M28: 3 x 3 magic square
M29: 4 x 4 magic square

Solve simple equations

M39: Balancing problems: what is the weight of a gold bar?
Use the 1 ,2 and 3 buttons to generate the problems. Three levels of difficulty:
level 1: small whole number solutions
level 2: multiple of ten solutions
level 3: gold bars on both sides
Use these buttons to generate either one problem or four problems.

M30: Work out what number each shape represents (positive numbers)
M31: Work out what number each shape represents (positive and negative numbers)
M32: Work out the value of each letter (positive numbers)

M34: Find the missing digits (horizontal sums)

M35: Find the missing digits (vertical sums)