Plus Times Puzzles
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Looking for a tricky math challenge? You wouldn’t think a math task involving only addition and multiplication could be so tricky, but I think you’ll be surprised.
This puzzle is just one of many free printable number challenges that I have created for my own classroom and am sharing with you!
Be sure to check out my entire collection of free printable math puzzles.
Puzzle Source
I first ran across Erich Friedman’s Plus Times Puzzles back in 2019. I have featured several of Erich’s puzzles on my blog before including Arrows Puzzle, Ducks and Snakes Puzzle, Equation Rotation Puzzle, Connect the Dots, and Hidden Equation. I was super excited when I discovered that he has an entire page of puzzles online called Erich’s Puzzle Palace.
One of his puzzles that caught my eye was his Plus Times Puzzles. I bookmarked the page and jotted down a note on one of my million to do lists to create my own copy to use with my students.
Puzzle Instructions
In the Plus Times Puzzles, you are given a set of numbers as well as a plus sign, a times sign, and an equal sign. You must combine the digits and symbols given to form a correct mathematical equation. You may draw in parentheses, as needed.
Each Plus Times Puzzle has a unique solution.
Using this Puzzle in the Classroom
Each puzzle is a separate deck of cards in a bag.
Each bag of laminated cards has a puzzle card which features the numbers involved in the puzzle as well as the letter of the puzzle.
MATH = LOVE RECOMMENDS…
A laminator is a MUST-HAVE for me as a math teacher! I spent my first six years as a teacher at a school with a broken laminator, so I had to find a way to laminate things myself.
I’ve had several laminators over the years. I currently use a Scotch laminator at home and a Swingline laminator at school.
I highly recommend splurging a bit on the actual laminator and buying the cheapest laminating pouches you can find!
The rest of the cards in the bag are designed to be moved around while solving the puzzle.
I created tracking sheets for groups to keep track of which puzzles they have solved and which are still stumping them.
I think when I do this with groups next year, I will hole punch the letters as groups solve the puzzles.
Free Download of Paper Version of Plus Times Puzzles
This collection of plus times puzzles is available to download as a PDF and as an editable Publisher file. In order to edit the Publisher file, you will have to have Microsoft Publisher installed on your computer.
Click here to Download
Plus Times Puzzles – Paper Version (PDF)
2502 downloads – 103.46 KB
Puzzle Solutions
Puzzle solutions are available on a password-protected solution page. I do not openly post the puzzle answer keys because one of my goals as a resource creator is to craft learning experiences for students that are non-google-able. I want teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms without the solutions being found easily on the Internet.
Please email me at sarah@mathequalslove.net for the password to the answer key database featuring all of my printable puzzles and math worksheets. I frequently have students emailing me for the answer key, so please specify in your email what school you teach at and what subjects you teach. If you do not provide these details, I will not be able to send you the password.
Not a teacher? Go ahead and send me an email as well. Just let me know what you are using the puzzles for. I am continually in awe of how many people are using these puzzles with scouting groups, with senior adults battling dementia, or as fun activities in their workplace. Just give me enough details so I know you are not a student looking for answers to the puzzle that was assigned as their homework!
Is there are answer key to this?
Sent you an email, Cara!
May I please get the answer key as well?
Sent you an email, Jessica!
Good Morning. May I please get the key to this amazing puzzle?
Sent you an email, LaShan!
These are a great resource, thank you!!
I’d like an answer key as well, please!
I just sent you an email, Sheryl!
Can’t wait to use these!
My kids can’t get enough of these math puzzles!