The Game of Creative Mathematics! Michele Krisher, Supervisor - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Game of Creative Mathematics! Michele Krisher, Supervisor Trumbull County ESC

OVERVIEW  Game format designed to allow students to use math skills and game strategies for successful play.  Increases student awareness of the power of mathematical equations.  Heightens student interest in mathematical operations and equation formation.  Allows for creative manipulation of mathematical operations and equation formation.

Goal of the Game To earn points either by: 1. correctly challenging other players, or 2. being incorrectly challenged by another player.

Game Requirements  Playing Mat  Resource Cubes  Timing Device  Paper  Pencils  Score Sheet

RESOURCES • 24 Cubes — 6 of each color; black, red, blue, & green • Numerals & operations on the face of the cubes create the RESOURCES . • The resources change each time the cubes are rolled. • There are no symbols of grouping on the cubes.

Operation Signs  Addition is indicated by use of the + .  Subtraction is indicated by use of the – .  Multiplication is indicated by use of the x .  Division is indicated by use of the  Exponents are indicated by the use of * .  Root is indicated by the use of the radical sign.  There are no grouping of symbols such as parentheses or brackets; however, when writing solutions, they must be used when necessary.

Playing Mat  Contains 3 major sections: Forbidden – indicates that this cube can no longer be used in forming the equation Permitted – indicates that this cube may be used in forming the equation Required – indicates that this cube must be used in forming the equation  Solution line – cubes should never be moved to this section during play  Goal line – cubes are placed here by the goal setter

Playing EQUATIONS  3 or 4 people may play together. • Each new roll is called a SHAKE .  In tournament play, a MATCH may be comprised by “a few” or “many” shakes. A match is generally determined by the length of time EQUATIONS is played.  To begin, each player rolls a red cube.  Operation signs are valued less than zero.  If all players roll operation signs, each player must re-roll a red cube.  The player with the highest numeral on the red cube, becomes the first GOAL SETTER.

A player by any other name… Goal Setter - the person who sets the goal 1. for the shake. The person to the left of a current goal setter becomes the next goal setter. Mover – the person whose turn it is to 2. make a move in the shake. Player – the person who is waiting for 3. his/her turn to move. In a 4-player match, there would be two players.

Basic Rules EQUATIONS GOAL MOVE SOLUTION CHALLENGE CORRECTNESS SCORING LAST CUBE FORCE OUT Rule Rule Rule Rule Rule Rule Rule Rule

3 0 Goal Rule 5 +  The goal setter rolls the cubes for the shake.  Goal setter has up to 2 minutes to set the goal.  The goal may contain as few as 1 or as many as 5 cubes.  The goal may contain one- or two-digit numerals.  The goal must form a legal expression: For example: 5 or 1x5+0 or 55-50  The goal is set when the goal setter states, “Goal” .

Move Rule  The person to the left of the goal setter becomes the first mover.  Once the goal has been set, the mover may either place a cube on the playing mat or call a challenge.  The first mover has up to 2 minutes to make the first move of the shake.  After the first move of the shake, each mover has up to 1 minute to make a move.

Solution Rule  It must contain all cubes in required, may contain cubes in permitted and none of the cubes in forbidden.  May not contain two-digit numerals.  It must be written on paper.  Must contain at least two cubes.  Must use parentheses and/or brackets to show the order of operations! {5X [3X ( 1+2 ) ] } + 1 = 46

Challenge Rule There are two kinds of challenges: 1. NOW Challenge – using no more than 1 additional cube from the resources, all the cubes in required, perhaps some cubes in permitted and no cubes from forbidden-a player can create a solutions that satisfies the goal; or 2. NEVER Challenge – given the resources in play, it is not possible to create a solution that satisfies the goal.

Challenge Rule Continued  A player may make a challenge “out -of- turn” by picking up the challenge block. Within 15 seconds, he/she must state which type of challenge is being made.  A player challenges the last mover.  A player cannot challenge himself/herself.  The third or fourth parties must either agree with the challenger’s choice, or side with the person who has been challenged – the most recent mover. These players must write their solutions independently.  ALL SOLUTIONS MUST BE WRITTEN ON PAPER!

Correctness Rule  A player is correct if his/her solution satisfies the goal under the conditions of the stated challenge.  A player is correct if his/her move is being challenged and the player who called the challenge is unable to write a correct solution.  Solutions must be written on paper & form a legal mathematical expression.  Players must agree to the correctness of the solution and indicate their acceptance by initializing the score sheet at the end of the match.

Scoring Rule  If you are correct, you get 10 points; unless you agree with the Challenger-then you only get 8 points for being correct.  You get 6 points if you are incorrect.

Last Cube Rule 5  If there is only 1 cube left in the resources, the only challenge that can be made is a NEVER.  If a NEVER challenge is not called, the mover must place the cube on to the mat.  All players must now write a solution.  Each player with a correct solution receives 8 points; incorrect solutions are worth 6 points.

Force Out Rule  When there are two or more cubes left in the resources, a mover may call, “force out”.  This indicates that the mover feels that no matter where he/she places a cube, a challenge will be called on him/her.  If the force out situation is valid (no move could be made) each player who can write a correct solution receives 8 points; incorrect solutions receive 6 points.  If play should have continued, the mover calling the force out receives 0 points, others score 6 points.

Tips & Tricks  Ambiguous Goals A goal setter must physically separate the cubes when there is more than 1 operation sign in the goal to indicate proper interpretation. Examples: 2x3 +1 = 7 2x 3+1 = 8 or 2x3+1 = 7 or 8!!

Tip & Tricks Continued  Once a cube touches the mat, it cannot be moved until the end of the shake.  The goal setter may “reorganize” cubes for the goal once they are placed on the mat, but they cannot be removed from the mat.  A “2” cube is not necessary in front of the radical sign to indicate the “square” root; however, any other indexes must be indicated by a numeral in front of the radical sign.  Solutions must use parentheses/brackets if the solution would otherwise be ambiguous.