Urgent: Maths Week Kicks Off Today with Puzzles for All!

UPDATE: The highly anticipated 20th annual Maths Week Ireland starts today, October 13, 2025, and runs until October 19. This week-long celebration invites everyone, from students to math enthusiasts, to engage in exciting puzzles and activities designed to sharpen mathematical thinking.

The initiative aims to reach an impressive cumulative total of 5 million participants over the two decades. This year’s theme emphasizes that mathematical skills extend beyond the classroom, playing crucial roles in everyday problem-solving, from budgeting to event planning.

Today’s puzzle challenge: Get ready to test your skills with a mix of mental arithmetic and logical reasoning! Here are some engaging puzzles to kickstart your Maths Week:

1. Mental arithmetic: What is 45 x 11?
2. Mental arithmetic: What is 623 x 11?
3. What three digits when multiplied together give the same answer as when added together?
4. What two numbers when multiplied together give the same answer as when added together?
5. Nora and Will collected blackberries. If Nora tells Will that if he gave her two, they would have the same amount, but if she gave him two, he would have twice as much as her. How many blackberries did each have?
6. Mary’s shopping cost: Butter was €5.60, flour was €1.85, and eggs were €3.50. How much did it cost altogether?
7. One typist can type 40 words per minute and another can type 60 words per minute. Together, how many words can they type in 10 minutes?
8. How long would it take the two typists from question 7 to type 600 words?
9. There are 8 black and 6 white socks in a drawer. How many would you have to pull out at random to be certain of a matching pair?
10. Anne was four times as old as Brian 12 years ago. In 6 years’ time, she will be twice as old as Brian. How old are they now?

Join the fun and challenge yourself! Don’t worry if you can’t solve them all—mistakes are part of learning. Come back tomorrow at 7:30 PM for the answers and a brand new challenge.

These puzzles were crafted exclusively for The Journal by Eoin Gill, co-founder and coordinator of Maths Week Ireland. Engage with your community and share your solutions! This initiative not only promotes mathematical skills but also fosters a sense of camaraderie among participants.

Stay tuned throughout the week for more exciting challenges that will stimulate your mind and enhance your math abilities!