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Get Twenty

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Maths problem-solving activity in which a deck of playing cards are added together to get twenty

Get Twenty

Challenging maths problem-solving activity to boost team skills.

  • Simple set-up
  • Promotes collaboration
  • Focus on critical thinking
  • Ideal maths game
  • Virtual options

Step-by-Step Instructions

This maths problem-solving activity challenges small teams to collaborate strategically using mathematical operations to reach specific numerical targets. Get Twenty encourages creative thinking and multiple solution pathways whilst developing computational fluency in a supportive group context. Perfect for classroom settings or training workshops, this fun group initiative promotes active discussion and cooperative learning. The competitive element motivates participants to stretch their mathematical reasoning skills and discover diverse approaches to solving the same numerical challenge.

Get Twenty – Maths Problem-Solving Activity
  1. Form small groups of 4 to 6 people.
  2. Distribute one random playing card to each person.
  3. If possible, avoid distributing cards with duplicate values in each group.
  4. Instruct each small group to use all of their cards together with any mathematical function (add, subtract, multiply and divide) to produce an equation of exactly 20.
  5. For example, King + Ace + 8 + 6 – 5 = 20.
  6. Allow at least 5 to 10 minutes for each small group to problem-solve.
  7. Challenge each group to produce as many different equations as possible.

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Add your Comments...

Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?

Comments (5)

  1. Joshua

    I led this one today for a small group (4) and it was a big hit! Highly recommend it. I did it virtually using one of those random card generators and it worked just fine. Used a whiteboard in Zoom.

    Reply
    • Mark Collard

      This is great to hear Josh, well done. Good to know that it worked virtually 🙂

  2. David Piang-Nee

    Got to play that recently.. quite the challenge if you are up to it. We as a group were and managed to solve it. Great lesson in “working with the hand you are dealt” or finding creative ways to solve an issue with the tools you are given.. tools being all the mathematical symbols or selective symbols depending on the groups age and ability

    Reply
  3. Erin

    This a great activity for my 8th-grade students to play while I was checking homework in class. I had to give the student groups new numbers as they solved each problem, but they were very engaged in working on the problem. The students requested to play again.

    Reply
    • Mark Collard

      This is a great idea Erin. Thank you for sharing – there’s never enough ideas to help us all fill-in idle time a little more productively.

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