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Simple counting problems – practice for Years 3–5

Sample questions on Simple counting problems with the right answer and a worked solution, from easy to hard. In the Pickles Academy app a child gets new questions of the same kind every time, so they can't just learn the answers by heart.

Subject
Maths
Year
Years 3–5
Curriculum area
Problem solving and non-routine tasks

Question types: How many ways?

Rule: Simple counting problems

When you choose one from the first group and one from the second, multiply the numbers.

Three things in a row: 3 choices for the first place, 2 for the second, 1 for the third, so 3 × 2 × 1 = 6.

Example: 3 T-shirts and 2 skirts: 3 × 2 = 6 outfits

Watch out: Count each handshake once: 4 people make 4 × 3 ÷ 2 = 6, not 12.

Sample questions

  1. Question 1 Easy

    An ice-cream shop has 4 flavours and serves them in a cone or a cup or a bowl. How many different choices are there for one scoop?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 12

    How it works: 3 × 4 = 12

  2. Question 2 Normal

    A flag has three horizontal stripes. Each is coloured differently, in red, blue and yellow. How many different flags are possible?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 6

    How it works: 3 × 2 × 1 = 6

  3. Question 3 Hard

    The school canteen offers 2 soups, 3 main courses and 3 desserts. How many different lunches (a soup, a main course and a dessert) can you choose?

    Show the solution
    Answer: 18

    How it works: 2 × 3 × 3 = 18

Related topics

All Maths topics

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