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Shape and space · Ages 8–9

Colouring a map worksheet

Part of: Parallel lines, quadrilaterals and triangles

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Colouring a map worksheet

Shape and space · Ages 8–9

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Write each answer in the space. For word problems, show your working and write a sentence answer.

Part A: Working out and filling in (2 marks each)

  1. 1.A flag is split into 5 stripes from left to right, and neighbouring stripes must be different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  2. 2.8 houses stand in a row, and neighbouring houses must be painted different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  3. 3.A flag is split into 7 stripes from left to right, and neighbouring stripes must be different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  4. 4.9 houses stand in a row, and neighbouring houses must be painted different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  5. 5.A flag is split into 11 stripes from left to right, and neighbouring stripes must be different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  6. 6.4 houses stand in a row, and neighbouring houses must be painted different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  7. 7.A flag is split into 9 stripes from left to right, and neighbouring stripes must be different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  8. 8.12 houses stand in a row, and neighbouring houses must be painted different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  9. 9.A flag is split into 3 stripes from left to right, and neighbouring stripes must be different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  10. 10.5 houses stand in a row, and neighbouring houses must be painted different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  11. 11.The outer regions of this map make a ring, and the middle region touches every one of them. Neighbouring regions need different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

  12. 12.The regions of this map make a ring round a lake, which isn't coloured. Neighbouring regions need different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Answer:

Part B: Word problems (4 marks each)

  1. 13.A cloth of squares has 3 rows and 2 columns. Squares sharing an edge must be different colours; touching at a corner doesn't count. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Working:

    Answer:

  2. 14.A park has 12 flower beds in a ring, and a round bed in the middle next to every one of them. Neighbouring beds need different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Working:

    Answer:

  3. 15.A park has 11 flower beds in a ring, each next to the two beside it. Neighbouring beds need flowers of different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Working:

    Answer:

  4. 16.A cloth of squares has 8 rows and 8 columns. Squares sharing an edge must be different colours; touching at a corner doesn't count. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Working:

    Answer:

  5. 17.A park has 3 flower beds in a ring, and a round bed in the middle next to every one of them. Neighbouring beds need different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Working:

    Answer:

  6. 18.A park has 10 flower beds in a ring, each next to the two beside it. Neighbouring beds need flowers of different colours. What is the fewest colours needed?

    Working:

    Answer:

Show the answers and working

Colouring a map worksheet: Answers and working

Part A: Working out and filling in

  1. 1. 2 colours

    Start from the left, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 5, so 2 is the fewest.

  2. 2. 2 colours

    Start colouring from the first house, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 8.

  3. 3. 2 colours

    Start from the left, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 7, so 2 is the fewest.

  4. 4. 2 colours

    Start colouring from the first house, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 9.

  5. 5. 2 colours

    Start from the left, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 11, so 2 is the fewest.

  6. 6. 2 colours

    Start colouring from the first house, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 4.

  7. 7. 2 colours

    Start from the left, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 9, so 2 is the fewest.

  8. 8. 2 colours

    Start colouring from the first house, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 12.

  9. 9. 2 colours

    Start from the left, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 3, so 2 is the fewest.

  10. 10. 2 colours

    Start colouring from the first house, switching colour each time. Can you keep taking turns with just two?

    In a row, two colours taking turns are enough: red, blue, red, blue… for all 5.

  11. 11. 4 colours

    First work out the colours for the ring alone. The middle touches every ring region: can it share any of their colours?

    The ring of 9 needs 4 − 1 colours, and the middle touches them all, so 1 more: 4.

  12. 12. 3 colours

    Count the regions in the ring, then take turns with two colours all the way round. Is there a clash back at the start?

    The ring has 9 regions: an even number takes turns with 2; an odd number clashes on the way round and needs 3.

Part B: Word problems

Marking: 2 for the working, 1 for the answer, 1 for the sentence.

  1. 13. 2 colours

    Think of a chessboard: how are the colours of squares that share an edge arranged?

    Two colours taking turns like a chessboard work for all 3 × 2 squares: 2.

  2. 14. 3 colours

    First work out the colours for the ring of 12 alone, then see whether the middle bed can use any of them.

    The ring needs 3 − 1 colours and the middle bed touches them all, so 1 more: 3.

  3. 15. 3 colours

    The beds make a ring. Is 11 odd or even? Try taking turns with two colours all the way round.

    A ring of 11: an even number manages with 2 taking turns; an odd number needs 3.

  4. 16. 2 colours

    Think of a chessboard: how are the colours of squares that share an edge arranged?

    Two colours taking turns like a chessboard work for all 8 × 8 squares: 2.

  5. 17. 4 colours

    First work out the colours for the ring of 3 alone, then see whether the middle bed can use any of them.

    The ring needs 4 − 1 colours and the middle bed touches them all, so 1 more: 4.

  6. 18. 2 colours

    The beds make a ring. Is 10 odd or even? Try taking turns with two colours all the way round.

    A ring of 10: an even number manages with 2 taking turns; an odd number needs 3.

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