MathBrush
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P4–P5–P6 Seeing it move

Today’s problem — free all day, every step. Every day has one.

Rectangle — a square bitten out of one corner

A rectangle has a length of 18 cm and a width of 9 cm. A square of side 4 cm is cut from one corner. Find the area of the remaining shape.

One step of the worked solution to Rectangle — a square bitten out of one corner, drawn in pencil.
7 steps, drawn in pencil

See all 7 steps

MathBrush is being tested with a few parent groups, and every solution on the site is open to them — one household, all children. If you were given a code, it goes in once and this device remembers it.

I have a code → See a free one like it

65 worked examples are free without a code, two from every pattern. No account, either way.

The pattern behind it: Seeing it move

Work out where the pieces land after a fold, cut or stack.

In this one. Cutting a corner off takes exactly that piece away from the area — but nothing at all from the perimeter, because the two new edges are the same lengths as the two edges removed.

ABCDEFa straight strip of three: the two ends land opposite

Also uses: Overlap and cancel

How to spot it

Words like 'folded', 'cut along the dotted line' or 'stacked' appear beside a shape, and the question asks for a length or angle that only makes sense once the pieces are in their new positions.

Common mistake

Children try to calculate the answer before working out where the pieces actually end up, skipping the visualisation step that the whole question depends on.

Try one like it

Standard Net of a cube — the opposite face The figure is the net of a cube. Which face is opposite face A when it is folded?
More about Seeing it move →

The 33 problem patterns

All 33 patterns, one to a page — the 19 behind Primary 5 and 6 word problems, and the skills the younger years are built on. The bar model, how to spot it in the question, and the mistake children make. A booklet you can print. Free.

A PDF, and a note when new solutions go up.