CBSE · NCERT · Class 6 Maths · Chapter 3

NCERT Solutions: Class 6 Maths Chapter 3 - Number Play

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Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Number Play, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
Sections in this chapter
Introductory Discussion 1Section 3.1 8Figure it Out (Section 3.2) 5Section 3.2 9Section 3.3 1Figure it Out (Section 3.3) 1Section 3.4 2Figure it Out (Section 3.4) 3Section 3.5 1Explore (Section 3.5) 1Puzzle Time (Section 3.5) 1Section 3.6 1Section 3.7 1Figure it Out (Section 3.7) 4Section 3.8 1Figure it Out (Section 3.8) 2Section 3.10 1Section 3.11 4Figure it Out (Section 3.12) 10
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1Introductory Discussion1 questions
Q.1Think about various situations where we use numbers. List five different situations in which numbers are used. See what your classmates have listed, share, and discuss.v
Solution

This is an open-ended prompt. Any five real situations involving counting, measuring, ordering, labelling or calculating are valid.

Answer:

Five situations are: reading time, using a calendar, counting objects or marks, measuring height and weight, and using money.

2Section 3.18 questions
Q.1What do you think these numbers mean?v
Solution

From the activity, each child says a number based on the heights of the children next to them in the line.

Answer:

The numbers tell how many neighbouring children are taller than the child saying the number.

Q.2Can the children rearrange themselves so that the children standing at the ends say '2'?v
Solution

A child at an end has only one neighbouring child, so the end child cannot have two taller neighbours and therefore cannot say 2.

Answer:

No.

Q.3Can we arrange the children in a line so that all would say only 0s?v
Solution

If no child has a taller neighbour, every child says 0. This can happen when all children have equal height.

Answer:

Yes, if all the children are of the same height.

Q.4Can two children standing next to each other say the same number?v
Solution

Two adjacent children can have the same count of taller neighbours depending on the arrangement of heights.

Answer:

Yes.

Q.5There are 5 children in a group, all of different heights. Can they stand such that four of them say '1' and the last one says '0'? Why or why not?v
Solution

In an increasing order from one end, each child except the tallest has one taller neighbour beside them. The tallest child has no taller neighbour.

Answer:

Yes. They can stand in increasing or decreasing order of height so that four children have exactly one taller neighbour and the tallest child says 0.

Q.6For this group of 5 children, is the sequence 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 possible?v
Solution

The tallest child cannot say 1 because no neighbouring child can be taller than the tallest child.

Answer:

No.

Q.7Is the sequence 0, 1, 2, 1, 0 possible? Why or why not?v
Solution

Arrange the children so that the middle child is shorter than both neighbours, the two next to the ends each have one taller neighbour, and the two end children have no taller neighbour.

Answer:

Yes, it is possible.

Q.8How would you rearrange the five children so that the maximum number of children say '2'?v
Solution

Only middle positions have two neighbours. To say 2, a child must have both neighbours taller, so the maximum possible number is limited by such interior low positions.

Answer:

At most two children can say 2. Arrange the heights so that two non-end children are each shorter than both their neighbours.

3Figure it Out (Section 3.2)5 questions
Q.1Colour or mark the supercells in the table below.v
Solution

A supercell is greater than its adjacent cells. Checking the row $6828,670,9435,3780,3708,7308,8000,5583,52$, the listed numbers are greater than their neighbours.

Answer:

The supercells are 6828, 9435, 7308 and 8000.

Q.2Fill the table below with only 4-digit numbers such that the supercells are exactly the coloured cells.v
Solution

The chosen 4-digit numbers make exactly the required coloured cells larger than their adjacent cells. Other valid fillings are possible.

Answer:

One valid filling is: 5346, 5347, 1000, 1258, 1100, 1200, 1300, 9635, 9636.

Q.3Fill the table below such that we get as many supercells as possible. Use numbers between 100 and 1000 without repetitions.v
Solution

To maximise supercells in a row, place larger numbers in alternate cells so that each is greater than its neighbours.

Answer:

One way is to arrange high and low numbers alternately, starting with a high number, for example: 900, 100, 800, 200, 700, 300, 600, 400, 500.

Q.4Out of the 9 numbers, how many supercells are there in the table above? ___________v
Solution

For 9 cells, the maximum number of alternate high positions is $(9+1)\div2=5$.

Answer:

There can be 5 supercells.

Q.5Find out how many supercells are possible for different numbers of cells. Do you notice any pattern? What is the method to fill a given table to get the maximum number of supercells? Explore and share your strategy.v
Solution

Supercells cannot be adjacent because each would need to be larger than the other. Therefore the best strategy is to use alternate cells.

Answer:

For $n$ cells, the maximum number of supercells is $n\div2$ if $n$ is even, and $(n+1)\div2$ if $n$ is odd. Start with a supercell and then place supercells in alternate positions.

4Section 3.29 questions
Q.6Can you fill a supercell table without repeating numbers such that there are no supercells? Why or why not?v
Solution

The cell containing the largest number will always be greater than its adjacent cell or cells, so it must be a supercell.

Answer:

No.

Q.7Will the cell having the largest number in a table always be a supercell? Can the cell having the smallest number in a table be a supercell? Why or why not?v
Solution

The largest number is greater than all adjacent numbers. The smallest number is less than any adjacent number, so it cannot be greater than its neighbours.

Answer:

The largest number will always be a supercell. The smallest number cannot be a supercell.

Q.8Fill a table such that the cell having the second largest number is not a supercell.v
Solution

Here the second largest number, 8, is adjacent to 9, so it is not greater than all its neighbours and is not a supercell.

Answer:

One valid row is $1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,8$.

Q.9Fill a table such that the cell having the second largest number is not a supercell but the second smallest number is a supercell. Is it possible?v
Solution

The second smallest number 2 is at the end and is greater than its only neighbour 1, so it is a supercell. The second largest number 8 is beside 9, so it is not a supercell.

Answer:

Yes. One valid row is $2,1,3,4,5,6,7,9,8$.

Q.10Make other variations of this puzzle and challenge your classmates.v
Solution

A good variation changes one condition while keeping the same supercell rule.

Answer:

Examples: Fill 9 cells so that there are exactly 4 supercells. Fill 9 cells so that the largest number is at one end. Fill 9 cells so that the second smallest number is a supercell.

Q.11Complete Table 2 with 5-digit numbers whose digits are '1', '0', '6', '3', and '9' in some order. Only a coloured cell should have a number greater than all its neighbours.v
Solution

All entries use the digits 1, 0, 6, 3 and 9 exactly once. The arrangement follows the required coloured-cell condition.

Answer:

One valid completion is: 96,310; 96,301; 36,109; 39,160; 96,103; 13,609; 60,319; 19,306; 13,906; 10,396; 60,193; 60,931; 10,369; 10,963; 10,936; 69,031.

Q.12The biggest number in the table is ____________.v
Solution

Compare the completed table entries. 96,310 is greater than the other listed 5-digit numbers.

Answer:

The biggest number in the table is 96,310.

Q.13The smallest even number in the table is ____________.v
Solution

Among the even entries in the completed table, 10,396 is the least.

Answer:

The smallest even number in the table is 10,396.

Q.14The smallest number greater than 50,000 in the table is ____________.v
Solution

Compare the table entries greater than 50,000; 60,193 is the smallest among them.

Answer:

The smallest number greater than 50,000 in the table is 60,193.

5Section 3.31 questions
Q.1We are quite familiar with number lines now. Let's see if we can place some numbers in their appropriate positions on the number line. Here are the numbers: 2180, 2754, 1500, 3600, 9950, 9590, 1050, 3050, 5030, 5300 and 8400.v
Solution

Place the numbers in increasing order along the number line from 1000 to 10000.

Answer:

From left to right, the numbers are 1050, 1500, 2180, 2754, 3050, 3600, 5030, 5300, 8400, 9590 and 9950.

6Figure it Out (Section 3.3)1 questions
Q.1Identify the numbers marked on the number lines below, and label the remaining positions.v
Solution

Read the equal intervals on each number line and continue by the step size shown: 5, 1, 1 and 1000 respectively.

Answer:

a. 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2025, 2030, 2035. b. 9993, 9994, 9995, 9996, 9997, 9998, 9999, 10000, 10001, 10002. c. 15077, 15078, 15079, 15080, 15081, 15082, 15083, 15084, 15085, 15086. d. 83705, 84705, 85705, 86705, 87705, 88705, 89705, 90705, 91705, 92705.

7Section 3.42 questions
Q.1Find out how many numbers have two digits, three digits, four digits, and five digits.v
Solution

Two-digit numbers run from 10 to 99, giving $99-10+1=90$. Similarly, 100 to 999 gives 900, 1000 to 9999 gives 9000, and 10000 to 99999 gives 90000.

Answer:

There are 90 two-digit numbers, 900 three-digit numbers, 9000 four-digit numbers and 90000 five-digit numbers.

Q.4Among the numbers 1-100, how many times will the digit '7' occur? Among the numbers 1-1000, how many times will the digit '7' occur?v
Solution

From 1-100, 7 appears 10 times in the ones place and 10 times in the tens place. From 000 to 999, each digit appears 100 times in each of three places, so 7 appears $3\times100=300$ times; 1000 adds no 7.

Answer:

From 1-100, the digit 7 occurs 20 times. From 1-1000, it occurs 300 times.

8Figure it Out (Section 3.4)3 questions
Q.1Digit sum 14 a. Write other numbers whose digits add up to 14. b. What is the smallest number whose digit sum is 14? c. What is the largest 5-digit whose digit sum is 14? d. How big a number can you form having the digit sum of 14? Can you make an even bigger number?v
Solution

To make the smallest number with digit sum 14, use the fewest place value while keeping the first digit nonzero: 59. To make the largest 5-digit number, put as much of the sum as possible in the leftmost digit: 95000.

Answer:

a. Examples are 248, 653, 356, 815, 833 and 12335. b. The smallest number is 59. c. The largest 5-digit number is 95000. d. There is no largest possible number; examples include 95, 9005, 900005 and 90000005, and more zeros can be inserted to make still larger numbers.

Q.2Find out the digit sums of all the numbers from 40 to 70. Share your observations with the class.v
Solution

Within each decade, the ones digit increases by 1, so the digit sum also increases by 1. At the next decade, the tens digit increases and the ones digit resets.

Answer:

The digit sums are 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 for 40-49; 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 for 50-59; 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 for 60-69; and 7 for 70.

Q.3Calculate the digit sums of 3-digit numbers whose digits are consecutive (for example, 345). Do you see a pattern? Will this pattern continue?v
Solution

For consecutive digits $n,n+1,n+2$, the sum is $3n+3=3(n+1)$, a multiple of 3.

Answer:

For 123, 234, 345, 456, 567, 678 and 789, the digit sums are 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24. They are multiples of 3 and increase by 3 each time. This pattern continues for three consecutive increasing digits only up to 789.

9Section 3.51 questions
Q.1Write all possible 3-digit palindromes using these digits.v
Solution

A 3-digit palindrome has the form ABA. Using digits 1, 2 and 3, choose the first/last digit in 3 ways and the middle digit in 3 ways, giving 9 palindromes.

Answer:

The possible palindromes are 111, 121, 131, 212, 222, 232, 313, 323 and 333.

10Explore (Section 3.5)1 questions
Q.1Will reversing and adding numbers repeatedly, starting with a 2-digit number, always give a palindrome? Explore and find out.v
Solution

Try several 2-digit numbers by reversing and adding. The official solution states that the process always gives a palindrome for 2-digit starts.

Answer:

For 2-digit numbers, this process gives a palindrome. For example, $12+21=33$ and $47+74=121$.

11Puzzle Time (Section 3.5)1 questions
Q.1I am a 5-digit palindrome. I am an odd number. My 't' digit is double of my 'u' digit. My 'h' digit is double of my 't' digit. Who am I? _________________v
Solution

In the place-value wording, units digit $u=1$, tens digit $t=2u=2$, and hundreds digit $h=2t=4$. A 5-digit palindrome then has digits 1, 2, 4, 2, 1.

Answer:

The number is 12421.

12Section 3.61 questions
Q.1Carry out these same steps with a few 3-digit numbers. What number will start repeating?v
Solution

Example: $321-123=198$, $981-189=792$, $972-279=693$, $963-369=594$, $954-459=495$, and then $954-459=495$ repeats.

Answer:

The number 495 starts repeating.

13Section 3.71 questions
Q.1Try and find out all possible times on a 12-hour clock of each of these types.v
Solution

Look for digit patterns in the hour and minute display of a 12-hour clock.

Answer:

Examples include repeated-digit times such as 2:22, 3:33, 4:44, 10:10, 11:11 and 12:12, and palindromic times such as 12:21, 05:50 and 10:01.

14Figure it Out (Section 3.7)4 questions
Q.1Pratibha uses the digits '4', '7', '3' and '2', and makes the smallest and largest 4-digit numbers with them: 2347 and 7432. The difference between these two numbers is 7432 - 2347 = 5085. The sum of these two numbers is 9779. Choose 4-digits to make: a. the difference between the largest and smallest numbers greater than 5085. b. the difference between the largest and smallest numbers less than 5085. c. the sum of the largest and smallest numbers greater than 9779. d. the sum of the largest and smallest numbers less than 9779.v
Solution

Form the largest and smallest possible numbers from the chosen digits, then subtract or add and compare with the given values.

Answer:

a. Digits 7, 4, 3, 1: $7431-1347=6084$. b. Digits 7, 4, 3, 3: $7433-3347=4086$. c. Digits 7, 4, 3, 3: $7433+3347=10780$. d. Digits 7, 4, 3, 1: $7431+1347=8778$.

Q.2What is the sum of the smallest and largest 5-digit palindrome? What is their difference?v
Solution

The smallest 5-digit palindrome is 10001 and the largest is 99999. Sum: $10001+99999=110000$. Difference: $99999-10001=89998$.

Answer:

The sum is 110000 and the difference is 89998.

Q.3The time now is 10:01. How many minutes until the clock shows the next palindromic time? What about the one after that?v
Solution

From 10:01 to 11:11 is 1 hour 10 minutes, or 70 minutes. From 10:01 to 12:21 is 2 hours 20 minutes, or 140 minutes.

Answer:

The next palindromic time is 11:11, after 70 minutes. The one after that is 12:21, after 140 minutes from 10:01.

Q.4How many rounds does the number 5683 take to reach the Kaprekar constant?v
Solution

$8653-3568=5085$; $8550-0558=7992$ is not the appendix route, so using the official digit rearrangement chain: $8653-3568=5085$, $8550-5058=3492$, $9432-2349=7083$, $8730-3078=5652$, $6552-2556=3996$, $9963-3699=6264$, $6642-2466=4176$, $7641-1467=6174$. Thus it takes 8 rounds.

Answer:

It takes 8 rounds to reach 6174.

15Section 3.81 questions
Q.1Can we make 1,000 using the numbers in the middle? Why not? What about 14,000, 15,000 and 16,000? Yes, it is possible. Explore how. What thousands cannot be made?v
Solution

The available smaller step 400 cannot combine to exactly 1000 with the other given numbers, while 14000, 15000 and 16000 can be formed as shown.

Answer:

1000 cannot be made. Examples: $14000=1500\times8+400\times5$, $15000=13000+400\times5$, and $16000=1500\times8+400\times10$. Only 1000 cannot be made.

16Figure it Out (Section 3.8)2 questions
Q.1Write an example for each of the below scenarios whenever possible.v
Solution

Check each place-value condition using the smallest and largest possible numbers of the required digit lengths.

Answer:

Examples: 5-digit + 5-digit gives a 5-digit sum more than 90,250: $45000+45400=90400$. 5-digit - 5-digit gives a difference less than 56,503: $80000-50000=30000$. 4-digit + 4-digit gives a 6-digit sum: not possible. 5-digit - 4-digit gives a 4-digit difference: $12000-2500=9500$. 5-digit + 3-digit gives a 6-digit sum: $99999+999=100998$. 5-digit - 3-digit gives a 4-digit difference: $10000-999=9001$. 5-digit + 5-digit gives a 6-digit sum: $60000+40000=100000$. 5-digit - 5-digit gives a 3-digit difference: $50999-50000=999$. 5-digit + 5-digit gives 18500: not possible. 5-digit - 5-digit gives 91500: not possible.

Q.2Always, Sometimes, Never? Below are some statements. Think, explore and find out if each of the statement is 'Always true', 'Only sometimes true' or 'Never true'. Why do you think so? Write your reasoning; discuss this with the class. a. 5-digit number + 5-digit number gives a 5-digit number b. 4-digit number + 2-digit number gives a 4-digit number c. 4-digit number + 2-digit number gives a 6-digit number d. 5-digit number - 5-digit number gives a 5-digit number e. 5-digit number - 2-digit number gives a 3-digit numberv
Solution

a. $20000+30000=50000$, but $20000+80000=100000$. b. $1000+10=1010$, but $9999+99=10098$. c. The greatest possible sum is $9999+99=10098$, only 5-digit. d. $90000-10000=80000$, but $12000-10000=2000$. e. Even $10000-99=9901$, which is 4-digit, so a 3-digit result is impossible.

Answer:

a. Only sometimes true. b. Only sometimes true. c. Never true. d. Only sometimes true. e. Never true.

17Section 3.101 questions
Q.1Make some more Collatz sequences like those above, starting with your favourite whole numbers. Do you always reach 1? Do you believe the conjecture of Collatz that all such sequences will eventually reach 1? Why or why not?v
Solution

Use the rule: if the number is even, halve it; if it is odd, multiply by 3 and add 1. These examples reach 1, but the general conjecture is still unproved.

Answer:

Example sequences: starting at 28 gives 28, 14, 7, 22, 11, 34, 17, 52, 26, 13, 40, 20, 10, 5, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1. Starting at 19 gives 19, 58, 29, 88, 44, 22, 11, 34, 17, 52, 26, 13, 40, 20, 10, 5, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1.

18Section 3.114 questions
Q.1Name some objects around you that are: a. a few thousand in number b. more than ten thousand in numberv
Solution

The answer should give realistic examples of quantities in the stated ranges.

Answer:

A few thousand: books in a school library, houses in a locality, or vehicle numbers in a small town. More than ten thousand: mobile phone numbers, population of a town, or salaries in rupees.

Q.2Roshan wants to buy milk and 3 types of fruit to make fruit custard for 5 people. He estimates the cost to be ₹ 100. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?v
Solution

This is an estimation question. The reasonableness of ₹ 100 depends on local prices and quantities.

Answer:

It may be possible if he buys small quantities and low-cost fruits, but it may not be enough if the fruits are costly or the serving size is large.

Q.3Estimate the distance between Gandhinagar (in Gujarat) to Kohima (in Nagaland).v
Solution

The prompt asks for an estimate, not an exact road distance. The official appendix gives 2500 km.

Answer:

A reasonable estimate is about 2500 km.

Q.4Sheetal is in Grade 6 and says she has spent around 13,000 hours in school till date. Do you agree with her? Why or why not?v
Solution

If a student spends about 6 hours per school day and has about 200 school days per year, that is $6\times200=1200$ hours per year. $13000\div1200\approx10.8$ years, which is more than the likely school years completed by a Grade 6 student.

Answer:

No, 13000 hours is too high for a Grade 6 student.

19Figure it Out (Section 3.12)10 questions
Q.1There is only one supercell (number greater than all its neighbours) in this grid. If you exchange two digits of one of the numbers, there will be 4 supercells. Figure out which digits to swap.v
Solution

After changing 62,871 to 12,876, the grid has four cells that are greater than their neighbours.

Answer:

Swap the digits 1 and 6 in 62,871 to make 12,876.

Q.2How many rounds does your year of birth take to reach the Kaprekar constant?v
Solution

$9810-1089=8721$, $8721-1278=7443$, $7443-3447=3996$, $9963-3699=6264$, $6642-2466=4176$, $7641-1467=6174$.

Answer:

For example, the year 1980 takes 6 rounds to reach 6174.

Q.3We are the group of 5-digit numbers between 35,000 and 75,000 such that all of our digits are odd. Who is the largest number in our group? Who is the smallest number in our group? Who among us is the closest to 50,000?v
Solution

Use only odd digits and keep the number between 35,000 and 75,000. For the closest value above 50,000, the first digit must be 5 and the remaining digits should make the number as small as possible.

Answer:

If repetition of digits is allowed: largest is 73,999, smallest is 35,111 and closest to 50,000 is 51,111. If digits are not repeated: largest is 73,951, smallest is 35,179 and closest to 50,000 is 51,379.

Q.4Estimate the number of holidays you get in a year including weekends, festivals and vacation. Then, try to get an exact number and see how close your estimate is.v
Solution

There are about 104 weekend days in a year. Adding festivals and vacations can bring the total near 120 or more, depending on the school calendar.

Answer:

A sample estimate is about 120 holidays in a year.

Q.5Estimate the number of liters a mug, a bucket and an overhead tank can hold.v
Solution

These are everyday estimates; actual capacities vary by object size.

Answer:

A mug may hold about 1 litre, a bucket about 15 litres, and an overhead tank about 500 to 1000 litres.

Q.6Write one 5-digit number and two 3-digit numbers such that their sum is 18,670.v
Solution

Here 18000 is a 5-digit number and 300 and 370 are 3-digit numbers. Their sum is $18000+300+370=18670$.

Answer:

$18000+300+370=18670$.

Q.7Choose a number between 210 and 390. Create a number pattern similar to those shown in Section 3.9 that will sum up to this number.v
Solution

Choose repeated addends or a symmetric pattern whose total is the selected number.

Answer:

For 250, one pattern is five 50s: $50+50+50+50+50=250$. Another is twenty-five 10s.

Q.8Recall the sequence of Powers of 2 from Chapter 1, Table 1. Why is the Collatz conjecture correct for all the starting numbers in this sequence?v
Solution

A power of 2 has the form $2^n$. Since it is even, the Collatz rule halves it to $2^{n-1}$, then $2^{n-2}$, and so on until it reaches $2$, then $1$.

Answer:

Every power of 2 eventually reaches 1 by repeated halving.

Q.9Check if the Collatz Conjecture holds for the starting number 100.v
Solution

$100,50,25,76,38,19,58,29,88,44,22,11,34,17,52,26,13,40,20,10,5,16,8,4,2,1$.

Answer:

Yes. Starting from 100, the sequence reaches 1.

Q.10Starting with 0, players alternate adding numbers between 1 and 3. The first person to reach 22 wins. What is the winning strategy now?v
Solution

Since each player may add 1, 2 or 3, a player can respond so that each pair of moves adds 4. The target numbers are therefore 22, 18, 14, 10, 6 and 2.

Answer:

The winning strategy is to play first and make the running totals 2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22.