Three Numbers Puzzle
This Three Numbers Puzzle comes from THINK ABOUT IT! Mathematics Problems of the Day by Marcy Cook. Previously, I have shared the Sum to Twenty Puzzle and the Sum to Thirty Puzzle from this same book.
In the three numbers puzzle, it is your task to use the numbers 0-9 once each (you will have one number that you will not use at all) to make 3 three-digit numbers.
The first number is three times the third number. The second number is the difference between the first number and the third number.
So far, I have been able to find 5 solutions to this puzzle.
Free Download of Three Numbers Puzzle
Three Numbers Puzzle (PDF) (3143 downloads )
Three Numbers Puzzle (Editable Publisher File ZIP) (1121 downloads )
Puzzle Solutions
I intentionally do not make answers to the printable math puzzles I share on my blog available online because I strive to provide learning experiences for my students that are non-google-able. I would like other teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms as well without the solutions being easily found on the Internet.
However, I do recognize that us teachers are busy people and sometimes need to quickly reference an answer key to see if a student has solved a puzzle correctly or to see if they have interpreted the instructions properly.
If you are a teacher who is using these puzzles in your classroom, please send me an email at sarah@mathequalslove.net with information about what you teach and where you teach. I will be happy to forward an answer key to you.
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, as fun activities in their workplace, or as a birthday party escape room.
Very nice number puzzle, as always in your pages. Five solutions also by an exhaustive excel calculus.
Cool puzzle. I found 6 solutions by an exhaustive search using python. I believe Pasquale missed one.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For the amazing work that you do. I look forward to seeing your new post every day. This summer, I used some of your puzzles with my 5th graders in camp. At the end of the summer, I asked each student what was the best part of camp. A very enthusiastic student responed “Three Numbers Puzzle”. This student spent 45 minutes focused and determined to solve this puzzles. Thank you for making so many puzzles classroom ready for us all to enjoy. I am hoping that you will post more puzzles from the THINK ABOUT IT! by Marcy Cook book. Those puzzles were a favorite and allowed students to remain focus and collaborate with each other. I don’t see this book on the Marcy Cook website. Has it been renamed?
This makes me so happy!
I believe the book is out of print. I’m sending you an email with more details.