The Amazing Math Race

Join us on a wonderful math journey. This is a math race that will have students working on new challenges,
solving ancient problems, and empowering them to go beyond numbers into mathematical thought.
The game is a play off the TV reality show Amazing Race, where contestants complete challenges in order
to move on to the next one. To complete this race students will need to have a basic understanding of
multiplication and division. They may work with others to help solve the problems.
Give the student one question at a time. They are to solve that problem and hand it in before receiving their
next problem. If they answered the problem incorrectly, a clue can be given but they can not receive the next
question until the first one is correct. Don't give them clues prior to their first attempt at the problem. Let
the student think about it and try it first. If they ask for help you can guide them by asking the child
questions to help clarify their thinking. If they require more help you can offer hints and clues on their
second attempt, if necessary.
There are a total of 12 different math problems. These problems are not meant to be completed in one day.
The idea is that it will take multiple days to finish this race. If more than one child in the household is doing the
race over consecutive days, consider staggering starts based on what order students handed back problems
the previous day. Students that handed in problems first may get the next question minutes before the next
students.
At the end of the Amazing Math Race we want to celebrate the children’s success on our social media sites.
We want to have a virtual math parade! Once a child has finished the race if you can send us their first name,
state and grade. If the parents of the child wants, they can also send in a picture of the students with the last
correct answer. We are hoping to have students participation from all 50 states and beyond. That would
really be an Amazing Math Race!
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Enjoy Math,
Mary Curry

MANGO Math Enthusiast

425-260-3221
mary@mangomath.com
www.mangomath.com
 Square of Numbers
Question #1
Can you put the numbers 1 to 8 into the circles so that the four
calculations are correct? More than one answer possible.

1 5 ÷ =

2 6
3 7 - x
4 8
+ =

©MANGO Math Group 2020

 

100 Grid Code Breaker

Question #2
   
This hundred square is written in code. It starts with one and ends with hundred.
Cut out the pieces and place them in the correct order to form a square that has
all the symbols in the right order.
       
   
       
   
      
   
   
      
      

  
       
  
       
  
       

  
   
  
  
   
  
  
    
 
  
             
  
             
©MANGO Math Group 2020
  

Crack the Code

Question #3
See if you can guess the code to the lock.

6 8 2  One digit is correct in correct place

6 4 5  One digit not in correct place

x   x x 
   

2 0 6  Two digits not in correct place

7 3 8  Nothing is correct

7 8 0  One digit not in correct place

©MANGO Math Group 2020

  

Dinner Party
Question #4
A dinner is planned to celebrate a sports team success. There are 400
people coming to the dinner. Tables sit either 8 people or 11 people. What is
the least amount of tables needed to seat all the people, with no empty
seats.

©MANGO Math Group 2020

  

Square Partitions
Question #5
Below are 9 squares each with a number. Divide each square into the number
of smaller square regions that is represented by the number. There are two
examples provided. Squares can not overlap. Hint: grid paper may help.

4  

X X 6  
7  

X X X
X X

X X X X
     

8  
9  
10  

     

11  
12  
13  

©MANGO Math Group 2020

  

Petals Around the Rose

Question #6
The name of the game is Petals Around the Rose. The name is important.
Five dice are rolled and I will tell you how many petals appear. Your task is to
figure out my rule for determining the number of petals.

= 6

= 12

= 8

= 4

= 2

©MANGO Math Group 2020

  

Social Distancing
Question #7
Can you divide each blue square into 5 rooms, each room is made up of 5
squares and has to have 2 Xs? Can you divide each red square into 6 rooms,
each room has 6 squares and 2 Xs?
   
X X X X
   
X X X
   
X X X X X X X
   
X X
   
X X X X
   
         
X X
                         

   
X X X
   
X X X X X X
   
X X X
   
X X X
   
X X X X
   
         
X X X
©MANGO Math Group 2020
  

What’s the Area?

Question #8
What is the area of this shape? Make sure to look closely!

©MANGO Math Group 2020

 

Trebling
Question #9
Can you replace the letters with numbers and get the correct answer?

  1   a    b    c    d    e 
 

X                            3 
  a   b    c    d    e    1 

  a    b   c   d   e     

  2   f    g    h    i    j 
X                          3 
  f   g    h    i    j    2 

  f    g   h    i    j     
©MANGO Math Group 2020
  

Dollar Dilemma
Question #10
Which of the characters below will make the most money at the end of 30
days? How much will they make?
     

     

     

©MANGO Math Group 2020

  

Question #11
A ten-volume set of books sits on a shelf, as shown. Each volume is 2 inches
think. Suppose a bookworm starts at the front of cover Volume 1 and eats
his way to in a straight horizontal line through to the back cover of Volume
10. How far does the worm travel?

1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10 

©MANGO Math Group 2020

 

Ogham
Question #12
Ogham is an alphabet that appears on monumental inscriptions in Ireland
dating from the 4th to the 6th century AD. It looks like the patterns below.
We have adapted this alphabet to our English alphabet. Use the grid to help
crack the code.
     
 
         
   
 

1 2 3 4 5
      
 
         
  
 

    
  
         
 
   

     
 

1 a b c d e
         
  
  

     
 
       
    
  

2 f g h i j
3 k l m n o
4 p q r s t
5 u v w x y 



















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


































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







6 z              
 
     

             
 
     

             
  
    

   
     
       
   

       
    
      
 

 
     
    
      
 

 
       
    
    
 

  
      
     
   
 

             
 

             
 

             
 

             
 

             
 

©MANGO Math Group 2020

  

is a 

©MANGO Math Group 2020