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Math Puzzles

What are puzzles?

Puzzles are a game or a problem that test your knowledge on a particular topic. There can be different levels of certain types of puzzles, ranging from easy to extremely hard levels. Irrespective of the type of puzzle, most people find it entertaining as well as a relaxing exercise if they are asked to solve a puzzle. If the puzzles are related to various topics of mathematics, that makes them more interesting as well as challenging. It is through puzzles that the children learn to strategize as they begin to recognize and thoughtfully understand how pieces fit together to complete a larger picture.

Why use them?

Puzzles are not just meant for entertainment and relaxation, there is much more to solving puzzles than just enjoyment. So, why is it important to use puzzles as a part of a learning program, especially when it comes to mathematics?

  1. Puzzles should be used to secure the interest and attention of the child or the learner.
  2. Puzzles should be sued to teach mathematics by illustrating and clarifying certain mathematical concepts and techniques, by securing a higher mastery of subject matter, by developing skill in manipulation, by making mathematical learnings more permanent, and by developing an appreciation of the systematic approach of algebraic methods.

How do puzzles assist in learning?

Boosting Learning

Suppose you ask a child to write down numbers from 1 to 100. There is a possibility that repeated exercise of this type may make the child feel bored and would gradually not be interesting in the exercise. But, how about asking the child to do the same exercise in a puzzle form where some entries have been filled and the remaining are to be filled by the child. An example of the number grid puzzles that we have for this purpose is shown below –

So, if the child gets different puzzles to solve, he / she might not get bored and in fact, would enjoy the exercise. This is like playing a game and reaching different levels by clearing the lower ones. In this manner, you can boost the learning in the child as well without having to put in much effort in the teaching and learning process.

Taking away the fear of Mathematics

It is without a doubt that mathematics is a subject that is feared by many children. One of the ways in which you can take away the fear from the mind of a child is by making the child solve math puzzles. These puzzles will help instil confidence in the mind of the child and boost further exploration of the concepts of mathematics. If the child is encouraged to do these puzzles, even while at home, the child will gradually talk about mathematics in a relaxed manner and this would take away the fear he / she might be earlier having, especially pertaining to certain concepts in mathematics.

Grasping Diverse Mathematical Concepts

The puzzles that we have created for you are not just simple puzzles that involve the counting of numbers. There is a wide range of concepts that we have covered in these puzzles such as multiplication. Moreover, we have puzzles that involve a combination of different concepts as well. The use of these puzzles will help the child grasp different concepts easily and effortlessly.

Build Strategic Thinking

Asking the child to speak or write numbers from 1 to 100 may lead to the child just mugging it up without analysing the concept strategically. The use of puzzles will help the child to develop strategic thinking abilities while grasping the concepts at the same time. These puzzles would also help develop problem solving skills as well. At a basic level, solving a puzzle helps a child gain an understanding of the rules and practice maths, but as they improve, they can think more strategically and push themselves further.

Helping is Test Preparation

Puzzles, as they help understand the concepts also prepare the child for the tests or exams that he / she is intended to appear in. The puzzles encourage children to develop their reasoning skills, think in a mathematical way and improve their working memory, as well as build their understanding of mathematical concepts such as counting addition, multiplication and so on.

Are puzzles age specific?

Puzzles are not age specific. They can be used for a person of any age who wishes to test his / her knowledge regarding a certain topic in mathematics.

What are the advantages of using Puzzles

The following are the advantages of using puzzles –

  1. The time spent in recreational activities such as puzzles does not inhibit the covering of prescribed course content; rather, it provides an opportunity for covering much additional material.
  2. The use of recreational material such as puzzles is stimulating to the teacher as well as to the child.
  3. Puzzles may be synchronized with daily assignments, thereby providing a common meeting ground for students and teachers from which a learning situation may progress.
  4. Creativeness is encouraged in the child as he / she devises his / her own recreational items.
  5. A form of research is encouraged through the use of puzzles as a form of learning in the children.

We have therefore come up with a number of different types of puzzles, some of which are –

  1. Number Grid Puzzles (10 Variations) – In these puzzles, we have a number of different sets of puzzles where a child is required to fill in the unfilled boxes with numbers from 1 to 100 in ascending order
  2. Printable Math Puzzle: Multiplication Squares – In these puzzles, for each of the squares given in the puzzle, the child is required to fill in the boxes so that the first two numbers in each column and row are multiplied together equal the third number.
  3. Math Puzzle: Jumbled Multiplication Sentences – In these puzzles, the child is required to write multiplication sentences using each number once.
  4. Math Puzzle: Crossword With Multiplication Facts – In these puzzles, the child is required to complete the crossword puzzle by answering the multiplication questions
  5. Printable Math Puzzle: Multiplication Boxes – In these puzzles, the child is required to multiply each number by the one in the middle and write the answer next to the number that was multiplied.