Chapter 10: Grand Mixed Review and Puzzles
Grand Mixed Review and Puzzles
Choose the correct strategy when the question does not tell you which topic it belongs to.
AI teacher
Press Start to hear a short classroom-style explanation. If sound is unavailable, the full script is shown below.
Voice: Browser voice
Workbook pages
Fun Maths Book 2 pages 122-127
Solve mixed word problems, puzzle review questions and final challenge problems.
AI explanation
The AI teacher models mixed-question thinking: read the question twice, identify the topic, choose a strategy, estimate, calculate, then check whether the answer makes sense.
- 1Mixed questions test your decision-making.
- 2First ask: what is the question really asking?
- 3Choose a method before calculating.
- 4After calculating, check whether the answer is sensible.
Think with the AI teacher
Today the question will not always tell us the topic. We will practise choosing a strategy like an independent mathematician.
Question 1
Pause 4sWhat should we do before choosing an operation?
After thinking
We read the story and identify what is being asked.
Exactly. Understanding comes before calculating.
Question 2
Pause 5sWhy is estimation useful before or after a calculation?
After thinking
It helps us notice if an answer is unreasonable.
Good. Estimation is a checking tool.
Question 3
Pause 5sIf a problem has two steps, how can we keep our thinking organised?
After thinking
Write the first result clearly, then use it in the second step.
Great method. Clear working helps clear thinking.
Deep structure
What children discover
Children discover that mixed problems test decision-making, not just calculation speed.
Common mistake
Children may grab the first operation they see instead of deciding what the question means.
Future connection
Mixed review prepares students for exam-style problem solving where topics are combined and methods are not signposted.
Animated demonstration
See the maths move
A puzzle board opens tiles for number, fraction, geometry and data clues, then combines them into a final answer path.
Read
Step 1
Choose
Step 2
Calculate
Step 3
Check
Step 4
Guided examples
Choosing an operation
A class has 6 boxes with 24 pencils in each box. They share the pencils equally between 8 tables. How many pencils does each table get?
- 1.First find the total pencils: 6 x 24 = 144.
- 2.Then share between 8 tables: 144 รท 8.
- 3.Check that the answer is less than the total.
Check reasonableness
A student says 398 + 205 = 503. Is this reasonable?
- 1.Estimate 398 as about 400.
- 2.400 + 205 is about 605.
- 3.503 is too small.
Interactive practice
Try it now
For every mixed workbook question, write a tiny plan before calculating.
Which step should come first in a mixed word problem?
Estimate 49 x 21.
If an answer is impossible in the story, what should you do?
Review
Explain how estimation can help catch a calculation mistake.
Parent signal
A strong mixed-review answer includes a chosen method and a sense-check, not just a number.
You are becoming a flexible problem solver. That is more powerful than memorising.