Concept 4 of 5
Picture Puzzles: Symbols as Numbers
Today's big idea
Each picture hides a number
Solve the simple line first.
How it works
👀 What's going on?
A balance puzzle can say 'two apples weigh 8' without ever printing the number 4 — yet you can find it. When a picture stands for a number, a little sum unlocks its value.
💡 Here's the trick
Look at the puzzle above. Each picture stands for the same number every time it appears. If two apples make 8, then one apple must be half of 8. Once you know a picture's value, you can use it in the next sum.
- 1.Find a line with just one kind of picture.
- 2.Work out that picture's value (share the total equally).
- 3.Use that value wherever the picture appears.
✍️ Try it
- 1.🍎 + 🍎 = 8. What is 🍎?
- 2.If 🍎 = 5 and 🍌 = 2, what is 🍎 + 🍌? Two apples make 8, so one apple is 8 shared into 2 = 4. If an apple is 5 and a banana is 2, then 🍎 + 🍌 = 5 + 2 = 7.
⚠️ Watch out
The same picture always has the same value. Do not let an apple be 4 in one line and 5 in the next — find its value once and keep it.
See it in action
⚡ Time to play!
Each picture stands for a number. Work out its value.
PICTURE PUZZLE · ROUND 1 OF 3
What is the value of 🍎?
Quick check
✅ VERIFICATION
If ⭐ + ⭐ + ⭐ = 12, what is the value of one ⭐?
⚡ Finish the activity above first to answer.
Keep going!
Up next: Rotation & Reversal Codes
Read it backwards, or hop the first letter to the end.