Ordering Positive & Negative Integers - Grid Challenge

Pupils are given 36 integers (a mixture of positives and negatives) and have to put the numbers into a 6 x 6 grid so that every row and column is in ascending order. This gives them plenty of practice of ordering negative numbers by size.

Solving the puzzle requires experimentation, so when I have used this in my lessons, I’ve put the sheets in plastic wallets and let pupils write on top using a whiteboard pen.

There are many possible solutions; I’ve provided one. However, the smallest number (-28) must always go in the top left corner, and the largest (18) must always go in the bottom right.