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For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Shape Mapping

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources

In this problem you're going to explore the changes that have happened to a shape and then choose a shape that shows the same change but with a different start.

Here's an example:

square is to rectangle, one side length same as square's, other side twice as long


as

1C
is to A, B, C or D below?

A
B
C
D


Well let's look at this first one together.
We need to decide what changed the square into a rectangle. I see that it appears to have been stretched to be twice as wide. We now have to look to see if there is a shape that looks as if that triangle has been stretched in the same way. Maybe you can see straight away.

We could look at the four suggestions.
A Looks smaller
B Could be OK
C Not as high
D Just two of them
B is the one which is stretched twice as wide.

Here are some for you to try.

1.

is to


as
IQ2C
is to:

A
or
B
or
C
or
D



2.

is to


as


is to

A
or
B
or
C
or
D



3.

is to


as

is to

A
or
B
or
C
or
D
Can you explain why chose the shape you did in each case?

When you've done these, you might like to invent some for yourself.
Get one or two ready for someone else to do.

You may also like

Transformation Tease

What are the coordinates of this shape after it has been transformed in the ways described? Compare these with the original coordinates. What do you notice about the numbers?

Penta Play

A shape and space game for 2, 3 or 4 players. Be the last person to be able to place a pentomino piece on the playing board.

Patchwork Quilt

Squares of the type shown are sewn together to make a quilt. How many different quilts can be made?

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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.

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