Table of Contents

Preface ...................................................................................................................................................7
Introduction of contents and inventions ....................................................................... 10
Why Chinese classic model word problems are included in this workbook? ? ................. 12
Why is it important to do math puzzles? ? ........................................................................... 13
Prerequisites for students who want to use this workbook ........................................... 14
Computation ability assessment , ..................................................................... 15
Numerical ability assessment ......................................................................................................... 22
Grade 1 math ability assessment ................................................................................. 23
Part 1 Intelligent math basics worksheets, smart computation, and speedy computation ............................... 26
Part 1 , , ........................................................................................................... 26
Intelligent math basics worksheets .................................................................................... 28
Why integrated worksheets are better? ?......................................................... 30
Chess Pieces and their mathematical values ............................................................................... 31
Chess pieces names and moves .............................................................................................. 32
One worksheet fits all grades ...................................................................................... 33
Knight moves to make 10 ................................................................................................................ 34
High performance multi-digit addition ............................................................................ 36
Computing additions through math and chess integrated puzzle .............................................. 37
Addition and subtraction by link ................................................................................................. 39
Picking your own number ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Math, chess, and puzzles integrated problem ....................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Buildings ............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Number relations in robotic form .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Spatial relation and logic ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Adding with convergent thinking () ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chess intersection and set .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chessboard and coordinates .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Doubling and difference of 2 2 ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The least and the largest, even and odd, sum and average , , .. Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Number relationships ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Consecutive numbers ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Paired whole numbers .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Addition and subtraction by link ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Reverse addition and subtraction ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Frankho Abacus Math ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Math and chess integrated addition ...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Multiplication, addition, and subtraction ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Memory and computation training .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Learning multiplication and division .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Magic square and chess () ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Multiplication using partial figure and spatial relation .......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
multiplication (order of operation) ............................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Learning division from multiplication (Concept used for % and getting one factor) ................ Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Division and remainder ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
1

Division with minimum quotient and no remainder ...........Error! Bookmark not defined.
dd divided by dd ..................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Commutative law ..................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Addition and subtraction facts ...................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Partitioning a sum ....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Mixed Computation ..........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Adding numbers in expanded form ................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Mixed Computations with parentheses ..........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Mixed Computations .......................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Adding numbers ending in 8 or 9 8 9 ....................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Skillful adding ..............................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Speedy math using shortcuts ......................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Speedy math using shortcuts (addition and subtraction) ...................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Adding 5s multiples 5 ........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part 2 Chinese classic model word problems and others ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part 2 ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Telling time ...........................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Calendar problems ...................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Column and row additions .........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Placing numbers in empty spaces ........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Find out the values of A, B, and C. A, B, C .................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Finding missing umbers addition .................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Finding missing numbers subtraction ..........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
One drawable graph .............................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Counting paths by counting on the dots .........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Match sticks math .........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Moving Match sticks math ..............................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Match sticks figures ........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Match sticks number math .............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Age problem .....................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Lineup problems .......................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Even and odd numbers ..........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Geometry .................................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
shapes .........................................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
What kind of lines does each picture have? , , .......................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Missing part of a figure or dividing a figure ............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Name of lines ......................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Angles and its classification .........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Rectangle, square, and their prisms ...........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Dividing shapes ...................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
2

Line Segment Diagram ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Give and Take problem ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Given amount = half of difference =........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Amount given = half of the difference = .................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Relationships of two quantities ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Give and Take ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Sum and difference ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Addition and subtraction .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Sum and Difference variations ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Adding numbers in table ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Counting figures and angles ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Sequence ................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Arrangement ........................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Equation .................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Finding Pattern .................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Number pattern .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Pattern and relation (Tabulation) T-................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Shape pattern ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure pattern ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Connected pattern shapes ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Puzzle pattern ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chess pattern ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Pythagoras triangle ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fibonacci number ........................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Inequality ............................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part 3 Problem solving strategies .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part 3 .................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Wording can make problems complicated ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Scale Problem ...................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Using diagrams or tables .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Line Segment Diagram ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
T-table T- ......................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Give and Take ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chickens and Rabbits problem ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Tree diagram ........................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Forward and Backwards (Reverse) calculation ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Reverse subtraction ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Reverse multiplication ........................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Reverse Division .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Substitution method ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Scale problems - making each weight scale balanced ................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Marking or writing answers while reading ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Coding ..................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
3

Using a sample or small number to solve gap or tree planting problems ..........Error!
Bookmark not defined.

Part 4 Fun Math IQ Puzzles including Frankho ChessDoku and Frankho Maze ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part 4 IQ ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Matrix reasoning .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Cognitive math IQ test preparing () ........... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Frankho ChessDoku ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Frankho ChessMaze .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Square grid math and puzzles ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
3 by 3 Sudoku ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
4 by 4 Sudoku ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Finding intersections .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Finding reflections .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Frankho unequal ChessDoku .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Matching the number of cherries ........................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Matching math operators ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Square grid math 2 by 2 ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Sudoku math ............................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fencing .................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Amandaho moving dots ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Connecting rooks ........................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Integrated math, chess, and puzzles ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
IQ math puzzles .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Future math star ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Rising star ........................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Four coloured map ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Virtual cell phone operating math ...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Virtual toy cube math ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Cube math transformation ......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Math IQ fitness puzzles IQ ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part 5 English word problems ................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Part 5 ............................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Basic word problems ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Addition word problems...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Addition word problems...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Subtraction word problems................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Subtraction word problems................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Addition or subtraction word problems .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Addition or Subtraction Word Problems ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Multiplication word problems ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Division word problems....................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Mixed word problems of four operations .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Intermediate word problems ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Two-step word problems ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Advanced word problems ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
What unique is Chinese math? ? ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Times Table .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
5

Smart phrases of positive and negative integer operations ..Error! Bookmark not defined.
Classic model word problems ..........................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Math Terminology .............................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Line Segment Diagram ..........................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Chinese character itself teaches math ......................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Ho Math Chess Franchise information ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

This workbook is aimed at math contests preparation for grades 1 and 2

The are not many math contests for grades 1 and 2. The main reason, I think, is the limited math
computation ability of lower grades students. Many North American students will not learn
multiplication until grade 3, but many Asian countries and areas learn times table at grade 2, so there is
one year of difference of learning ahead in China. This workbook has brought its standard to meet the
highest possible math curriculum in the world so four operations of computation appear in this
workbook. The earlier the students could master the skills of four basic operations, the more the
students could explore many possibilities of word problem computation problems. With this in mind,
how does the very popular Math Kangaroo Contest test the grade 1 and grade 2 students? How is it
different from other math contests?
The Math Kangaroo grades 1 and 2 Contest almost does not include the direct math computation
problems which are very different from the math contests in China where direct computation problems
could include skillful computation problems. I analyzed the most recent years of Canadian Math
Kangaroo Contest grade 1 and 2 problems and they start to emerge some characteristics and
categories, so I include here to help students prepare for it. The lower grade math contest tends to
skew to the more visual operation type of problems. The problems could be classified as follows:

Arrangement and sorting numbers

Patterns of figures and numbers
Counting figures or shapes or paths
Cubes or cards math
Including rotation or folding
Identifying parts of a figure or finding what part of a figure is missing
Number puzzles including filling numbers into empty spaces
Logic and reasoning problems
Word problems
Including some Chinese model problems

All other problems which do not belong to the above.

Many of the above problems are not typical problems appeared in the books where you can buy from a
bookstore because the problems in the math contests are much more complicated and involve a lot of
creativities. The above subjects are now included in this workbook.
Frank Ho
November, 2016

Preface
I have been teaching math to kindergarten to grade 12 students for the past 21 years every night, 7
days a week at the Ho Math Chess Learning Centre based in Vancouver, Canada. I have encountered
many problems including some of the followings:

The traditional computation worksheet format is boring. Many research papers have been
published to show us how to teach math, but when comes to have some practice sheets, the
choices are few and far between. None of them could have any earth-shattering styles.
I teach in an environment which is very different from regular day schools because I could have
students ranging from grade 1 to grade 6 all in one class, although I tried hard to have similar
background of students gathered together, but sometimes it is not possible because students
have other lessons to go to. Most of my students have after-school classes almost every day.
Some students can only do very basic calculation sheets, yet some of them need to be
challenged on advanced word problems including math contest problems. How can I teach
students with such diversified background?
Children not only need to learn math, some of them need to do puzzles to activate their brains
and increase their IQ.

With the above in mind, I created many separate workbooks including basic calculation, word
problems, puzzles, and I even incorporated chess moves into my math worksheets. With all these
efforts, ironically, I created additional problem for myself, that is I have to use 4 workbooks to teach
one child. In 2015, I started to pay attention to Chinese after-school learning centres teaching
materials and also started to compare their teaching materials with our North American materials. At
the same time, I researched the materials from Singapore, Taiwan, and puzzles from Japan and Britain.
These analytical researches have led me to have an idea to combine all my published workbooks into
one large workbook which includes math contest problems, IQ fitness, word problems, and chess and
math integrated worksheets.
This workbook is unique and one-of-a-kind. It also represents my idea of showcasing why math is fun to
children and my ideas of using inquiry and conceptual teaching () and then
reinforced by procedural practices (). I have used many of these worksheets on my own
students in my classes and witnessed their feedback. Most children do not want to do just computation
problems for 2 hours; very few students like to work on math contest problems for 2 hours
continuously, so puzzles and chess problems are fun for them for a change

The Ultimate Math Contest Preparation, Problem Solving Strategies, and Math IQ Puzzles series of
workbooks are created not for the purpose of teaching to test. It is created with the idea of fostering
students creativity. For this; it can be seen, in these workbooks, we have demonstrated many
different methods of solving the same problem (), and how to transfer the knowledge of
solving a model word problem to expansion problems (). Some examples have provided the
same method to solve the different problems with different data types ().
This workbook is not created for those students who are having problems with their day school math,
but for the students who have shown above the average math ability and also are willing to take on the
additional challenging by learning something they do not normally learn at their day schools math
classes. Our workbook also shows the variety of math problems a student could learn other than the
school math. This workbook is not only written with a traditional western math teachers view, but also
incorporated some popular classic Chinese word problems to give insights on how Chinese train their
elementary math contestants. The advantage of using these classic model problems is to get students
to use arithmetic skills to solve complicated word problems which they themselves naturally possess
some beautiful math models. For example, the Tree Planting problem naturally has three equation
models and the Chickens and Rabbits problem is a type of Systems of Equations problem, yet the
elementary students need to solve them using arithmetic, instead of using algebra. Traditional style of
writing math topics by strategies or math subjects are also included in our workbook. In addition, we
also included some of our puzzle inventions. So over all, this math contest workbook takes on an all
round and all resources training approach () which includes the training materials coming
from model problems, strategies, word problems, and also puzzles.
The purpose of these books is to promote mathematical thinking and to stimulate student's interest in
math. The good math contest contestants not only care about getting the correct answer, they also
enjoy the process of thinking on how to solve problems.
Our math contest books are suitable for preparing the following math contests or competitions.
Worldwide Math Kangaroo Contests
USA Mathcounts
USA Math Olympiad
Mathleague Math Contest
Canada BC Elmacon Math Contest
Canadian Math Challengers Competition
Canadian Gauss & Pascal Mathematics Contests
Mathematica Phythagoras, Euler, Langrange, Newton contests
Worldwide Caribou Mathematics Online Contest (USA Brock University)

Chinese math contests

Many countries' math competitions
Teachers are encouraged to select materials which are suitable to a student's background.
Frank Ho
December, 2014 first edition
November, 2016 revised edition

10

Introduction of contents and inventions

Ultimate Math Contest Preparation, Problem Solving Strategies, and Math IQ Puzzles
This workbook contains five major parts as follows:
Part 1 Intelligent math basics worksheets, smart computation, and speedy computation
Part 1 , ,
Intelligent math, puzzles, and chess integrated basic computation worksheets are our inventions which
offer students the opportunities to think more than the traditional computation worksheets. The
knowledge of how to make basic chess moves is the only requirement to work on integrated chess and
math problems. Chess tactics and strategies are not the prerequisite.
Part 2 Chinese model word problems
Part 2
Some Chinese word problems have been around for a few thousands such as the Chickens and Rabbits
problems. There are reasons why these word problems are still popular in China for so many years, one
main reason is because of their complications and fun to work with. For example, the Tree Planting
problem has three natural dependent and independent relationship built in the problem, students have
to understand the relation between the number of trees planted and the intervals between trees. The
Sum and Difference problem is the simplest System of Equations model, yet elementary students can
solve them without using the concept of Systems of Equations. Many of these problems are used as
one step in multi-step math contest problems.
Emphases are placed on the following areas of model problems:
Different methods of solving the same problem ()
How to transfer a model word problem solving method to other problems ().
Use the same method to solve problems with different data types ().
The training of math contest ability includes the following subjects:
1. The relationships between known quantities by moving quantity around such as the problems
of Give and Take, Sum and Difference.
2. Pattern including number, figures, and words etc.
3. Smart and speedy calculations including number puzzles
4. Geometry shapes and their names including solids
5. Basic fraction concepts such as half, one third, quarter etc.

11

6. Multiples including doubling and the multiples of 5

7. Logic
Our invented problem solving methods included using T-table for the Give and Take problems, writing
answers while reading questions, and story telling for the Sum and Difference problems.
Part 3 Problem Solving Strategies
Part 3
The strategy of working backwards is one of the most important problem solving strategies. Students
also learn how to use the universal problem solving method Line Segment Diagram to do all kinds of
problems when the word problems get complicated.
Part 4 Fun Math IQ Puzzles including Frankho ChessDoku and Frankho Maze
Part 4 IQ
Apart other math and chess puzzles, we included our invented math, chess, and puzzles integrated
worksheets such as Frankho ChessDoku and Frankho ChessMaze. By learning these math and puzzles
integrated worksheets, student do not learn math computations just in linear from left to tight
operation. A 3600 view of computing are provided for students to train them in looking at problems
from different angles. Some puzzles simulate the environment of internet browsing.
Part 5 English word problems
Part 5
Simple one-step and also more than one-step problems are included. We invented and recommended a
word problems solving method that is to write intermediate answers while reading problem sentences.

12

Why Chinese classic model word problems are included in this workbook? ?
Most math contest preparation books only contain math contest problems. One special feature
included in this workbook is it contains some popular Chinese classic model word problems, so the
result of using this workbook is very effective for students to gain more in-depth understanding in
solving math problems.
Chinese after-school learning centres are fascinating about teaching Chinese classic model word
problems and these model problems have their underlying reasons why they are so popular. Many of
them involve complicated equation models and some of them are basically simple model of Systems of
Equations such as Chicken and rabbits, Sum and Difference, Give and Take etc. Problems. The can be
easily solved by using algebra, but before these elementary students learned algebra, how do we teach
these bright students to take on the challenge to solve a bit more advanced word problems? Chinese
math educator invented the Line Segment Diagram method and use it as the universal method. For
those word problems which are awkward to use the Line Segment Diagram method, Chinese also come
up with different ways of solving them, a famous example would be the Chickens and Rabbits
assumption method which does not draw the Line Segment Diagram.
The drawback of solving these classic Chinese word problems is many Chinese math contest books have
resorted to providing students with formulas, the well known example is the Sum and Difference
problem. I have taken a different approach by rewording the same routine problem into a story such
that the students could use the scenery to act it on to solve the problem without memorizing the
formula. Many Sum and Difference variations appear in age problems or perimeter problems, so they
can be solved by using the idea of Sum and Difference instead of using algebra.
Chinese model word problems are challenging, fun to work with and they can train students thinking
skills before they learn how to use algebra to solve these problems. Surprisingly, some of these
arithmetic solving methods even easier than algebra such as the remaining fraction problem. Perhaps
this is one of the reasons these model problems do not appear again in high schools when the students
have the acquired the knowledge of using algebra.

13

Why is it important to do math puzzles? ?

The most important reason to include puzzles in this workbook is because they help improve a
student`s brain power in the areas of inferring, reasoning, logic, analyzing, and concluding while
working on computation. Puzzles also train childrens patience and endurance. The puzzles training
emphasis is on reasoning, orientation, visualization, comparison, data analysis, pattern, creativity,
imagination, intuition, innovation, number sense, and logic training, not so much on computation skills.
Traditional worksheets
example

Chess and
puzzles
worksheets

Mathematical puzzles worksheets

example

Boring and no fun.

One directional
computation

example

example
2+1=?
1+2=?
2+3=?
1+3=?
3+1=?

Frankho ChessDoku

+ 1

Abstract
symbol idea.

Multi-direction
computation.
Fun and more engaging.
Multi-level, multi-grade
teaching.
Multi-concept teaching for
computation and logic

Multi-direction computation.
3D virtual hands-on idea
(knight jump).
Fun and more engaging.
Multi-level, multi-grade
teaching.
Multi-concept teaching for
computation and logic
Integrating math, chess, and
puzzles.

14

Prerequisites for students who want to use this workbook

If a student makes more than 2 mistakes in the following assessment, then the student may feel it is too difficult
to work on this workbook. Students can rewrite the horizontal format to vertical format if they like.

Problems
32 3 =
27 8 =
45 2 =
54 32 =
39 27 =
48 37 =
47 38 =
101 1 =
101 2 =
103 3 =
103 4 =
115 4 =
115 6 =
23 2 =
23 4 =
32 3 =
33 21 =
79 67 =
87 78 =
76 67 =
53 47 =
63 49 =
72 27 =
82 28 =
91 19 =

Work area

15

Computation ability assessment ,

To do addition, the student could get themselves familiar with adding a number by 1, 2, and 3 first,
then also remembering the times 2 table to get doubling. The technique of adding 10 () is often
used in China to speed up the process of computing, but how to change the idea of subtracting to
adding?
One way of doing subtraction is as follows:

The above procedure actually is how students will do when working on an abacus using fingers to move
beads in 2 steps. The first step is to do 10 4, then do the second step that is to add 2 to get the
answer
We can eliminate the first step by simply remembering the complement number of adding 10 that is to
say the buddy number () of 4 is 6. In this way students are not doing subtractions any more,
they simply are doing addition without carrying over. The little change of thinking illustrated above has
changed the 2-step subtraction procedure to a 1-step of addition with no carry over. The secret is
students simply remember which two numbers added to make 10.
I, Frank, have taught students using the scenery of buying a pen from me as follows:
John, you have 2 bills as laid on the table:

The 3 is written with no $ for a purpose so I can explain to John that when 3 is overlaid on to $10, it is
actually $13 and 1 really is not just one, it is ten (so the concept of place value is introduced here.).
When you want to buy a pen costing 4 from me, then we can write it in arithmetic expression as
follows:

16

I ask John which bill he would give me to buy my pen, he would say $10. I then say to him, Okay, here
is your pen and I keep your $10. Right? Lots of students would agree and simply forgot to ask for
change. So the change is $10 - $4 = $6. How much money does John have now? Some students got
confused at this point and will say $6. The correct answer is $6 + $3 which John did not spend.
Even though it is much easier for students to use one step to do subtraction by simply remembering the
complement number of 10, but it is very strange, for some students the 2-step seem to be clearer than
1-step. Usually students already having troubles with math show difficulties in understanding the 1step procedure. Do not insist that all students should use one-step subtraction.
Some problems in the following worksheet use the 1-step addition idea.

17

Changing subtraction to addition by using 10's complement (number of buddy) of the one's digit

_11_______,

__2____

___12_____,

__3____

__13______,

__4____

__16______,

__7____

18

___14_____,

___5___

___15_____,

___6___

19

Computation ability assessment

problems
2 + 9 = _______
4 + ____ = 15
6 + ___ = 13
___ + 4 = 18
9 + 4 = ___
5 + ____ = 11
7 + ___ = 12
___ + 6 = 14
2 + ___ = 13
4 + ____ = 15
____ + 5 = 18
___ + 4 = 16
____ + 9 =18
8 + ____ = 19
9 + ___ = 12
___ + 3 = 13
11 8 1 =________ _______= ___
11 2 1 =________ _______= ___

Work area

12 6 = ______
13 9 =________+ _______= ___
11 3 =________+ _______= ___
12 5 1 =__= ___
13 7 =________+ _______= ___
11 2 1 =________ _______= ___
12 4 =________+ _______= ___
15 61 =________ _______= ___
11 2 =________+ _______= ___
12 41 =________ _______= ___
11 6 =________+ _______= ___
12 9 =________+ _______= ___
12 31 =________ _______= ___

20

Problems
___ + 6 = 11
12 6 = ________
14 6 + ____ = 11
___ + 4 = 11
____ + 9 7= 15
12 9 = ______
14 7 = ____
189 = ____
11 8= _____ + ____ = ___
11 2 =________+ _______= ___
11 4 =________+ _______= ___
11 6 =________+ _______= ___
13 9 =________+ _______= ___
14 5 =________+ _______= ___
12 5 =________+ _______= ___
16 7 =________+ _______= ___
19 8 2 =________ _______= ___
14 5 1 =________ _______= ___
13 4 =________+ _______= ___
14 6 2 =________ _______= ___
12 9 =________+ _______= ___
12 3 =________+ _______= ___
13 5 3 =________ _______= ___
14 7 =___
11 2 2 =________ _______= ___
13 4 =________+ _______= ___
15 63 =________ _______= ___

Work area

12 3 =________+ _______= ___

12 42 =________ _______= ___
13 6 =________+ _______= ___
14 9 =________+ _______ = ___
12 34 =________ _______= ___

21

11 8 =_____+ _____= __ 2 + 1 =3
11 2 =_____+ _____= __ 8+1=9
12 4 =_____+ ____= __ 6+2=8
12 6 = ___
13 9 =________+ _______= ___
11 3 =________+ _______= ___
12 5 =________+ _______= ___
13 7 =________+ _______= ___
11 2 =________+ _______= ___
12 4 =________+ _______= ___
15 6 =________+ _______= ___
11 2 =________+ _______= ___
12 4 =________+ _______= ___
11 6 =________+ _______= ___
12 9 =________+ _______= ___
14 3 = __________
13 5 =________+ _______= ___
14 6 2 =_______ _______= ___
12 8 =________+ _______= ___
12 3 =________+ _______= ___
13 5 3 =______ _____= ___
14 8 =________+ _______= ___
11 3 2 =______ ______= ___
13 9 =________+ _______= ___
15 63 =________ _______= __
12 5 =________+ _______= ___ 7
13 8 3 =______ _____= __
14 8 1 =______ ______= ___
11 8
15 8
16 8
13 8

2 =_______ _______= ___

4 =_______ _______= ___
1 =______ _____= ___
3 =______ _______= ___

22

Numerical ability assessment

1

3+9

12 2

9+3

22 2

12 3

33 2

12 9

44 2

5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

22
33
4 4
66
55
99
88
11 11
10 10
77
12 12
13 13
14 14
15 15
25 25
35 35
55 55
19 2
14 5
12 8
13 6
11 4
10 9
10 4
18 9
17 8
17 9
11 2
13 4
15 8
17 9

36
37

14 9
13 4

55 2
11 3
22 3
44 3
55 3
83
89
96
76
56
26
1 111
11
23 1
24 2
22 1
48 2
48 4
48 3
48 12
48 6
48 48
72 2
72 3
72 4
72 12
72 6
72 36
1 2
2 4
1 1
+
2 2
One dollar is how many cents?
One dollar 10 cents are how many
cents?

One hour is how many

minutes
One hour 20 minutes is how
many minutes
15 minutes is how many
hours?
30 minutes is how many
hours?
121 2
242 2
123 2
321 2
213 2
312 2
231 2
321 2
121 3
232 3
123 3
321 3
213 3
312 3
231 3
321 3
121 3
242 3
25 5
2555 5
250 5
2500 5
2505 5
25050 5
100 5
1000 5
500 5
100 50
100 100
100 10
1000 10

1
4

1 0.1
10 0.1

23

Grade 1 math ability assessment

Number line
A number is drawn as follows to show 1 + 1 = 2.

Look at the following diagram and come up with your equation.

If the following diagram shows 3 - 1 = 2,

Then what is the value of the following diagram?

What is the value of the following diagram?

Write an equation for the following number line.

Write the equation for the above number line.

24

Grade 1 math ability assessment

37 9 =
73 4 =
45 8 =
89 +7 =
36 17 =
What is the largest one-digit number?
What is the largest two-digit number?

What is the smallest two-digit number?

Circle the following even numbers.
177, 46, 8, 91, 32, 21

Insert >, <, or = in

(67 19)

47 >

(31 18)

12

(77 28)

(37 + 12)

(34 26)

(17 8)

If

+6=8+

, what is the value of

25

Grade 1 word problems math assessment

How many squares are in the following figure?

What are the odd numbers which are less than 20?

Ethan is in a lineup for a concert. There are 3 people in front of Ethan and 5 people behind Ethan. How many
people are in the lineup?

Adam is 2 years older than Bob now. How old will Adam be more than Bob next year?

Meghan had 17 apples and she gave two of her friends each 4 apples, then how many apples does she have now?

Andrew has $13 and he wishes to buy an applications software which costs $29. How much more he has to save
in order to buy the software he wants to?

26

Part 1 Intelligent math basics worksheets, smart computation, and speedy computation
Part 1 , ,
Introduction
Students must possess above the average computation ability before taking on the challenging of doing math
contest problems, otherwise the students might get very frustrated. When they get confusion in computation
problems themselves which will hamper their ability to solve word problems, they will not develop the ability to
see the solutions intuitively or mentally.
The ability of seeing which 2 digits adding to 10 is the very minimum requirement to develop a good number
sense. Students also need to know the times table of 2 and 5 even at grade 1 so that they can double a number
quickly and be able to work on clock problems without counting.
To learn the techniques of smart computation () and speedy computation (), students need to learn the
commutative law (). For example
3 + 2 = 2 + 3, but 3 2 is not equal to 2 3. However, if we move the sign along with the number, then we can
make the 2 3 = - 3 + 2.
Students need to observe the number sequence or pattern carefully to see if any number pairs could be added to
10s multiples or a comfortable number with lots of zeros at end. Sometimes using the technique of adding 1 or
subtracting 1 could make computation easier, for example, 9871 9 = 9871 10 + 1 = 9862.
We do not want to ask students to memorize all kinds of rules to speed up the computation, nor do we ask
students to have lots of practices to perfect the speedy process. With the above in mind, we included some
simple and easy to see computation tricks in this workbook to develop a grade 1 students mental computation
ability.
Students should be taught with conceptual approach so they understand why each step is taken, if the students
are not taught with reasoning, then the steps could be easily forgotten after a few weeks, also a computation
problem requires reasoning would have difficulty for students taught by procedure, for example a problem such
as follows seem to be difficult for students who learned math computation by repetitions.
99 + 9
= 100 1 + 10 1
= 110 2
= 108

27

Students who learned computations by repetitions also have difficulty to apply learned knowledge to a problem
which are written in different format. For example, some students who are always taught in vertical format
computation may encounter difficulties when asked to do the horizontal format computation.
An example is as follows:
Horizontal format
21 9 = ?
Vertical format

28

Intelligent math basics worksheets

The computational worksheets included here are called Intelligent math worksheets and they all are my
inventions. They never existed in the world until I created them. The reason I call them intelligent is
because they are not straight, traditional computation worksheets which students only need to get
answer by looking at the math operators. I wanted to create one kind of worksheets which not only
train students computation ability, but also increase their problem solving ability. These kind of
intelligent math worksheets have no obvious questions presented, so students need to go through a
puzzle path which is similar to the idea of internet browsing. Only by doing data analyzing, can the
answer be found. Many times, the answers are not obvious until the analytical work is finished. In our
intelligent worksheets, the processing of getting the simple answer is more interesting than getting the
operations done that is why these math worksheets are called intelligent math worksheets. For
example, the worksheet of One worksheet fits all grades. is a puzzle worksheet which
includes computation problems suitable for all grades. The worksheet includes the computations of whole
number, fraction, decimal, and percent. They can be used by grade 1 to grade 7 elementary students by selecting
their learned topics.
The integrated math and chess worksheets only need students to know the basic chess moves, no chess tactics
or chess strategies knowledge are required.

I wrote a Chinese one liner ()showing the feeling when working on Ho Math Chess integrated
worksheets:

See puzzles not problems.
No need to weep when lost.
Math chess plus puzzles - A wonder to sharpen your brain.
The following description describes the overall idea how Ho Math Chess integrated math, chess, and puzzles
worksheets are combined.

Ho Math Chess workbook is a multi-function workbook, it trains children not only their basic computing
ability but also train them to be an astute data warehouse manager or an excellent data miner by
developing their problem solving ability and critical thinking skills.
Ho Math Chess workbook provides education and also entertainment value to get young children
involved in the future world they will be facing.

29

30

Why integrated worksheets are better? ?

Direct teaching method is easy for an average student to follow such as working on traditional vertical
math basic numbers fact worksheets but these worksheets tend to be boring and less challenging and
engaging for an above average student. Exploratory teaching method is more challenging and involves
multi-step problems so it is not easy for an average to grasp sometimes.
Our integrated worksheets take the exploratory approach which trains an average student to use more of
his or her brain and yet the problem is not difficult so an average student can solve them.
The following problem taken out from this workbook demonstrates our idea as follows:

31

Chess Pieces and their mathematical values

Symbols of chess pieces

Names of chess pieces

Mathematical values

Queen

Rook

Bishop

Knight

Pawn

King

32

Chess pieces names and moves

Symbol

Names of chess pieces

Queen
(major piece)

How does it move?

(If it is not blocked and is safe to move.)
Up and down
Left and right
Diagonally
Any number of squares

(Q)

King

Up and down
Left and right
Diagonally
one square at a time

(K)

Rook
(major piece)

Up and down
Left and right
Any number of squares

(R)

kNight
(minor piece)

L-shape or Y-shaped in 8 directions

The only piece can jump over pieces.

(N)

Bishop
(minor piece)

Diagonally
Any number of squares

(B)

Pawn

One or two squares forward on the first

move and only one square forward after
first move. One square diagonally when
take opponents piece. When pawn
reaches the other end of the board, pawn
can be promoted to any pieces other than
a king or a pawn.

33

One worksheet fits all grades

You are a chess piece located at c3.
5
C3

4
3

Fraction

decimal
Whole
%

2
5
0.0024
12
100

24
0.024
36
25%

3
3
10000
45
10%

4
3
0.0048
72
1
33 %

5
4
0.001
90
0.05%

Whole number

=______

+ ______ = _____

=______

+______ = _____

=______

______ = _____

=______

______ = _____

Decimal

=______

______ = _____

=______

=______ ______ = _____

=______ ______ = _____

______ = _____

Fraction of multiplication and division [Do not need the same measuring unit (denominator).]

=______ ______ = ______

= _____

______ = ______

=______ ______ = ______

=______

______ = ______

Fraction of addition and subtraction [Must have the same measuring unit (denominator).]

+ ______ = _____
=______ ______ = _____
=______

=_______

+ ______ = _____

=_______

______ = _____

=______ ______ = _____

=______

______ = _____

=______ ______ = _____

=______

_____ = _____

34

Knight moves to make 10

Step 1
Start at a3 and write the number 1.
Step 2
Make a knight move in clockwise and write a number in
the empty square such that the value of a3 + the value of
the next move = 10.
Step 3
Continue the knight moves such that the current value
plus the value of the next move is 10 until all knight
moves are completed.

35

Knight moves to make 10

Step 1
Start at a2 and write the number 2.
Step 2
Make a knight move in clockwise and write a number in
the empty square such that the value of a2 + the value of
the next move = 10.
Step 3
Continue the knight moves such that the current value
plus the value of the next move is 10 until all knight
moves are completed.

36

High performance multi-digit addition

3 229 345 564

2 765 999 887
1 548 888
a
b

The original square is at b2 =

899
c

0708090204060503
+ 9909090909090909

b2 +

b2 +

b2 +

b2 +

37

Computing additions through math and chess integrated puzzle

g4

g3

f3

g1

f1

g2

f2

f4

1
a

11
12

2
14

The start square is at c3 =

15
i

c3 +

= __+ __ = __

c3 +

= __+ __ = __

= __+ __ = __

= __+ __ = __

c3 +

= __+ __ = __

c3 +

= __+ __ = __

= __+ __ = __

= __+ __ = __

38

Computing subtractions through math and chess integrated puzzle

5
4
3
2
1

f2

f3

g2

f1
5
4

19

g1

f4

g3

g4

5
+5

6+

93

11
12

2+9
+4

+8

14

+6

7+8

The start square is at c3 =

15
i

c3

= __ __ = __

c3

= __ ___ = __

= __ __ = __

= ___ ___ = ___

c3

= __ __ = __ c3

= ___ ___ = ___

= __ __ = __

= ___ ___ = __

39

Addition and subtraction by link

k1

k2

k1+i1

i1

i2

4
2

k3

k3+i3

i3

+7
i1+k1
2

+5
1

k1-2
3
i

You are at b2 =

= __________

= __________

= __________

= __________

+
+

= __________
= __________

= __________

= __________

40