Skip over navigation
Cambridge University Faculty of Mathematics NRich logo
menu search
  • Teachers expand_more
    • Early years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
    • Events
    • Professional development
  • Students expand_more
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Parents expand_more
    • Early Years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Problem-Solving Schools
  • About NRICH expand_more
    • About us
    • Impact stories
    • Support us
    • Our funders
    • Contact us
  • search

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

  • The Number System and Place Value
  • Calculations and Numerical Methods
  • Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
  • Properties of Numbers
  • Patterns, Sequences and Structure
  • Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
  • Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

  • Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
  • 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
  • Measuring and calculating with units
  • Transformations and constructions
  • Pythagoras and Trigonometry
  • Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

  • Handling, Processing and Representing Data
  • Probability

Working mathematically

  • Thinking mathematically
  • Developing positive attitudes
  • Cross-curricular contexts

Advanced mathematics

  • Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Advanced Probability and Statistics
  • Mechanics
  • Calculus

For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Down to Nothing

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Game

This is a game for a single player, a pair or a small group.
You need one calculator.

  1. Enter 100 on the calculator.
  2. Choose any single digit number (from 1 to 9) to take-away.
  3. Leave the answer on the screen and the next player chooses a number to take-away.
  4. Keep going until someone reaches exactly 0.

Agree on your scoring system before you begin. Here is one to start with:
1 point for an odd answer
2 points for an answer ending with 0
3 points for a multiple of 6 (that is; an answer from the 6 times table)

For example:
Player 1: 100 - 7 = 93 (Scores 1 point)
Player 2: - 3 = 90 (Scores 2 points)
Player 1: - 5 = 85 (Scores 1 point)
Player 2: - 5 = 80 (Scores 2 points)
Player 1: - 8 = 72 (Scores 3 points)
Player 2: - 2 = 70 (Scores 1 point)

So far Players 1 and 2 have 5 points each. The game continues.
The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.

Younger players might find it helpful to track the game with counters on a Hundred chart.

Is there a strategy to help you build the highest score?
What is the maximum number of turns possible?
What is the smallest number of turns possible in a game?
What is the lowest score possible? What is the highest?

Set a challenge for yourself and/or a partner to find set of turns that gives a score of exactly 15 (or some other chosen target).

You may also like

Prime Magic

Place the numbers 1, 2, 3,..., 9 one on each square of a 3 by 3 grid so that all the rows and columns add up to a prime number. How many different solutions can you find?

What Is Ziffle?

Can you work out what a ziffle is on the planet Zargon?

Shapes on the Playground

Sally and Ben were drawing shapes in chalk on the school playground. Can you work out what shapes each of them drew using the clues?

  • Tech help
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Twitter X logo

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

University of Cambridge logo NRICH logo