Year 5 Multiplication & Division - Problem-Solving Investigations

These in-depth maths investigations are open-ended problem solving activities for Year 5 children.

In-depth Investigation: Prime Differences
Children find out if prime numbers become less frequent as we consider sets of larger numbers.

In-depth Investigation: Excellent Eights
Children explore patterns when multiplying numbers with consecutive digits by 8.
The PowerPoint can be used to guide your class through this investigation.

In-depth Investigation: LCM Squares
Children use trial and improvement to find the smallest possible total on a square of lowest common multiples.

In-depth Investigation: Division Remainder Patterns
Children look at patterns of remainders in 4-digit numbers when dividing by numbers 3 to 6. Can they establish a rule?

In-depth Investigation: What an Odd Thing!
Children create a triangle of odd numbers and identify patterns when rows are summed or their end numbers are averaged.

In-depth Investigation: Remainder Runners
Children divide 1234, 2345, 3456 by 3, 4, 5 … 12 and look for patterns in the remainders.

In-depth Investigation: Reverse Digits, Same Product
Children find the product of a pair of 2-digit numbers then reverse the digits of both numbers and find an identical product.

These investigations will develop maths meta-skills, support open-ended questioning and logical reasoning, and enable children to learn to think mathematically and articulate mathematical ideas.

These problem-solving investigations come from our Year 5 Maths Blocks. Each Hamilton maths block contains a complete set of planning and resources to teach a term’s worth of objectives for one of the National Curriculum for England’s maths areas.