Sometimes We Lose Things

This investigation can be seen as one to multibase work. Many articles have been written about the use of working in different bases. Some of you will remember using Dienes Multibase Blocks for the same purpose. It can certainly be of use to help pupils really get a better grip of the four rules of number and what is happening when we are working in out own base ten.

On the other hand it is a useful investigation in its own right and from the multiplication table many patterns can be found. It is somewhat easier for 9-11 year old pupils to get to the reasons WHY these patterns and relationships occur, than in many of the other investigations that you may have explored through this website.

You might find it very useful to explore the similarity with multiplying by 8 in this system compared to using 9 in the base 10 system.

There are strong links to DIGITAL ROOTS which have been used in previous Nrich Challenges

* Consecutive Numbers 31

* EWWNP 33

article D.R. 5524

Here we see the multiplication table with the numbers changed into the digital root within the system of working in base 9. Just try comparing this to the same table for base 10 and with digital roots!!