9-10-11-12 Challenge

The 9-10-11-12 Challenge is actually four puzzles in one. Can you arrange the numbers 1 through 6 in the spaces of the triangular shape below so that each side sums to 9? Repeat the challenge for sums of 10, 11, and 12.

I learned of this challenge from a collection of brainteasers that is no longer online. Luckily, an archived version of the website still exists.

They called the activity “Stop Clownin’ Around.” I didn’t really want to keep the balloon theme, so I renamed it the 9-10-11-12 Challenge.

Pre-pandemic, when I originally typed this puzzle up, I planned to use it on my puzzle table with laminated number pieces for students to move around.

The template above will work for each part of the 9-10-11-12 Challenge, but I decided to go ahead and make separate challenges as well.

I’ve recently learned that these puzzles are actually known as Magic Triangle Puzzles since each side of the triangle adds up to the same value. These are similar to Magic Square Puzzles.

Digital Versions of 9-10-11-12 Challenge

Since we still seem to be living in a pandemic, I also created a digital version of the 9-10-11-12 Challenge in Google Slides.

I got a little too excited when making this and decided that each challenge needed its own color.

Here’s the link to make a copy of this google slides version of the 9-10-11-12 Challenge.

Want more puzzles? Check out my puzzles page!