December 5, 2019 Oli Ryan

Would you rather…? Maths reasoning questions № 4

Here's the fourth of our Maths reasoning questions for KS1 or KS2 Maths lessons. It's ideal for use as a starter activity or as a puzzler to settle children as they arrive. It's part of our new series of 'Would you rather…?' Maths reasoning questions.

These fun, visual problems are challenging, but open to interpretation by your pupils. For many of them, there is no 'right answer', but a choice of answers which children must first identify and choose from, then justify their choice using maths.

You'll find an explanation of the Maths involved in this 'Would you rather…?' Maths reasoning question directly underneath it, as well as links to all of the other questions in this problem-solving series.

'Would you rather…?' Maths reasoning question № 4:

Would you rather…? Maths reasoning question 4 trains

Which train journey would you rather take? Why?

Download this Maths problem as a PDF

Teacher's Notes

Download the image above to display on your board.

The 'solution':

The first journey takes 2 hours and 57 minutes, arriving at 12.07.

The second journey takes 2 hours and 49 minutes, arriving at 12.04.

Although the second journey departs later and arrives earlier, it may not be preferable for a non-mathematical reason: there are two changes!

There are opportunities for discussion with this problem, as there is no 'right' answer. You might also like to discuss how these travel schedules could be made clearer, so travellers can decide on the best journey more easily.

Check out the other 'Would you rather…?' Maths reasoning questions.

Looking for more Maths Problem Solving lessons and plans? Check out our ready-to-teach collection here.

Filed in: lesson planning, maths, maths reasoning questions, teaching ideas

Previous article Lessons school children can learn from Olympic athletes!

Featured collection

Non-chronological Reports

No reviews

Original price £12.00 - Original price £12.00

Original price

£12.00 - £12.00

£12.00 - £12.00

Current price £12.00

| /

In this engaging six-lesson unit, children will learn how to write their own non-chronological reports on a topic they know best — their favourite ...
View full details
Autobiography KS2

No reviews

Original price £10.00 - Original price £10.00

Original price

£10.00 - £10.00

£10.00 - £10.00

Current price £10.00

| /

This complete Autobiography KS2 scheme of work provides everything you need to guide your Year 6 class through the process of writing their own aut...
View full details
The Egyptian Cinderella

No reviews

Original price £12.00 - Original price £12.00

Original price

£12.00 - £12.00

£12.00 - £12.00

Current price £12.00

| /

Perfectly linking English with your Ancient Egypt topic, this Egyptian Cinderella planning pack invites your Year 3 class to explore and retell fai...
View full details
We're Going on a Lion Hunt

No reviews

Original price £12.00 - Original price £12.00

Original price

£12.00 - £12.00

£12.00 - £12.00

Current price £12.00

| /

Take your class on an unforgettable adventure through the African savannah with this exciting six-lesson English scheme, inspired by 'We’re Going o...
View full details
Titanic Recounts and Reports

No reviews

Original price £12.00 - Original price £12.00

Original price

£12.00 - £12.00

£12.00 - £12.00

Current price £12.00

| /

This Titanic Recounts and Reports planning pack for KS2 children challenges your Year 5 or Year 6 children to use what they know about the Titanic ...
View full details