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What do all Mathletes have in common? They exhibit such a positive competitive spirit that they can't wait to beat their time on any activity. 

Mind Benders challenge the children to look at a number critically and think of it in the context of certain clues.

For example, the number 26 is best known by English speakers as the number of Letters in the Alphabet. So the clue "26 L in the A" usually triggers the association.  Another easy one is "365 D in a Y."

The first sheet attached are 25 Mind Benders I created with math in mind.  The second one is more challenging and should be attempted with the whole family.  Try not to look at the solutions.

Mind Benders challenge the children to look at a number critically and think of it in the context of certain clues.

For example, the number 26 is best known by English speakers as the number of Letters in the Alphabet. So the clue "26 L in the A" usually triggers the association.  Another easy one is "365 D in a Y."

The first sheet attached are 25 Mind Benders I created with math in mind.  The second one is more challenging and should be attempted with the whole family.  Try not to look at the solutions.

We explored the simplest geometric shape with one face and one edge.  The paradox is that this is a three dimensional polyhedra. It has revolutionized belts for engines and has been used to define black holes. I proved to the children that a conventional fan belt in an engine or computer only uses one side of the belt and wares out quickly.  A Mobius belt uses twice the surface area and lasts twice as long.

Francis Guthrie, a 21yearold mathematics student at University College in London, was mapping the counties of England in 1852 when he noticed that he only needed four colors for the map. He asked his younger brother, Frederick Guthrie, if this was true for any map. Frederick took the problem to his professor, Augustus de Morgan.