Math Bell Ringer Archive: Grades 6–12
Every math bell ringer from our daily sets, for both middle school and high school: 4 bell ringers so far, newest first. They cover quick problems with worked answers: fractions, percents, equations, probability and more. Pick a grade band below to narrow it down.
Math Bell Ringer for Grades 9–12: Comparing two-dice probabilities
You roll two fair six-sided dice and add the numbers. Which is more likely: a sum of 7 or a sum of 10? Give the probability of each as a fraction in lowest terms.
Answer and teacher notes
There are 6 × 6 = 36 equally likely outcomes.
Sum of 7: (1,6), (2,5), (3,4), (4,3), (5,2), (6,1) = 6 outcomes, so 6/36 = 1/6.
Sum of 10: (4,6), (5,5), (6,4) = 3 outcomes, so 3/36 = 1/12.
A sum of 7 is twice as likely as a sum of 10. Check: 1/6 = 2/12. The most common error is counting (4,6) and (6,4) as the same outcome; on two separate dice they are different.
Math Bell Ringer for Grades 6–8: Finding the better deal with unit prices
- Store A sells 6 granola bars for $4.50. Store B sells 8 granola bars for $5.60. Which store has the better price per bar?
- How much would you save buying 24 bars at the better price instead of the other one?
Answer and teacher notes
1. Store A: $4.50 ÷ 6 = $0.75 per bar. Store B: $5.60 ÷ 8 = $0.70 per bar. Store B is the better deal.
2. Store A: 24 × $0.75 = $18.00. Store B: 24 × $0.70 = $16.80. You save $1.20. Check: 5 cents saved per bar × 24 bars = $1.20.
Common mistake: picking Store A because $4.50 is the smaller total. The unit price is what lets you compare packs of different sizes.
Math Bell Ringer for Grades 6–8: Homework fractions and a sale price
- A class has 28 students. Three-fourths of them turned in their homework. How many students did NOT turn it in?
- A $40 hoodie is on sale for 25% off. What is the sale price?
Answer and teacher notes
1. 28 ÷ 4 = 7, so one-fourth is 7 students. Three-fourths (21) turned it in, which leaves 7 students who did not.
2. 25% of $40 is $10. $40 − $10 = $30. Shortcut: 25% off means you pay 75%, and 0.75 × 40 = 30.
Math Bell Ringer for Grades 9–12: Solving a linear equation
Solve for x, then check your answer: 3(x − 4) = 2x + 5
Answer and teacher notes
3x − 12 = 2x + 5 → x − 12 = 5 → x = 17
Check: 3(17 − 4) = 3(13) = 39, and 2(17) + 5 = 39. Both sides match. The most common error is distributing the 3 to x only and writing 3x − 4.
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