Maths hiding in making things: paint mixing

Quick answer

Maths is all around us, even in something as simple as mixing paint. When you combine different colours, you're using addition, comparing amounts, and understanding ratios – all important maths skills!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how mixing paint involves maths, and you can use addition, comparison, and simple ratios to create new colours.

• You can mix two or more paint colours to make a new one.
• You can compare how much of each colour you use.
• You can explain how changing the amounts changes the final colour.
• You can use words like "more", "less", "equal", and "ratio" to describe your mix.

Why this matters

Paint mixing is not just about art – it’s about maths! When you mix paint, you’re using addition to combine parts, comparison to see how much of each colour you need, and ratio to make sure your colours turn out just right. These skills help you in many other parts of life, like cooking, building, or even sharing snacks.

Whether you’re making a rainbow, a sunset, or a dark blue for your robot, you’re using maths to get it right.

How it works

Mixing paint is like combining ingredients in a recipe. You start with different colours, and then you add them together. Here’s how it works:

1. Choose your base colours – For example, red and blue.
2. Decide how much of each colour – You might use 3 parts red and 1 part blue.
3. Mix them together – Stir them up to make a new colour.
4. Compare your mix – Is it more red? More blue? Equal parts?
5. Adjust if needed – If it’s too red, add a bit more blue.

When you do this, you're using addition (red + blue = purple), comparison (more red than blue), and ratio (3 red to 1 blue).

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you're painting a dragon. You have:

• Red paint
• Blue paint
• Yellow paint

Now, you want to make a purple dragon. Purple is made by mixing red and blue. Here’s how:

You can also make orange by mixing red and yellow. Try this:

These examples show how changing the amounts changes the shade of the colour.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Colour Mixing Challenge!

You are a colour wizard and your mission is to mix paint to make special colours for a fairy tale castle.

Step 1: You need 3 parts blue and 1 part green to make a deep ocean colour.

Step 2: For the sunshine, you mix 2 parts yellow and 1 part red.

Step 3: For the rainbow, you mix 1 part red, 1 part yellow, and 1 part blue.

Step 4: You want to make a purple that’s half red and half blue.

Step 5: Try to mix a light green by using 1 part blue and 3 parts yellow.

Draw or write down how much of each colour you used for each step. How did changing the amounts change the colour?

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Using too much of one colour and not enough of the others.
  Why it happens: It's easy to get excited and pour a lot of one colour.
  Fix: Count or measure your parts before mixing. Use a small spoon or cup to help.
• Mistake: Thinking that mixing equal parts always makes a new colour.
  Why it happens: Sometimes mixing equal parts of two colours makes a new one, but not always.
  Fix: Try it out! Mix 1 part red and 1 part blue – you get purple. Mix 1 part red and 1 part green – you get yellow-green.
• Mistake: Not comparing the amounts of paint you used.
  Why it happens: Kids often forget to think about which colour is more or less.
  Fix: Always ask, “Is there more red or more blue?” This helps you understand your mix better.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:

• Encouraging them to count or measure paint parts
• Letting them compare their mixes with others
• Asking questions like, “What happens if you use more red?”
• Using simple words like "more", "less", "equal", and "ratio"
• Letting them draw their mixes to help them remember

It's okay if they don't get the perfect colour the first time – that's how learning works!

What not to do: Don’t rush or correct too quickly. Let them experiment and make mistakes. They’re learning!

Practice questions

1. How many parts of red and blue do you need to make purple?
   Answer: Equal parts (e.g. 1 part red + 1 part blue).
2. If you use 2 parts yellow and 1 part red, what colour do you get?
   Answer: Orange.
3. If you mix 3 parts blue and 1 part green, what colour do you make?
   Answer: Deep ocean blue.
4. How can you make a lighter purple?
   Answer: Use more blue and less red.
5. If you have 4 parts red and 2 parts yellow, what colour do you get?
   Answer: Orange-red or a warm orange.

FAQ

Why do we use maths when mixing paint?

We use maths to make sure we mix the right amounts so we get the colour we want. It’s like following a recipe!

Can I mix more than two colours?

Yes! You can mix as many colours as you like. For example, red + blue + yellow = brown.

What happens if I mix too much of one colour?

If you use too much of one colour, your mix will be more of that colour. For example, too much red will make purple look more red.

Do I need to measure paint?

You don’t need to measure exactly, but using cups or spoons helps you compare amounts and make better mixes.

Can I use maths to make a rainbow?

Yes! A rainbow is made of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. You can mix them in different ratios to make each colour.