Learning Math Can Lead to Winning at Cards

May 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It does not matter if your game is blackjack or poker. When you understand mathematics and statistics, you are going to become a better player and have a better chance of winning money. The professional card players know the odds that they are up against on every hand and use that information to plot their next move.

As the old poker saying goes, “You got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.” Playing poker is all about exploiting your opportunities to have a good hand. Texas Hold ‘em is the most popular of the casino games online right now and the key to being successful is to know when you have a realistic chance to win. Even the best hands can get beat sometimes but if you stick with playing hands where you have a reasonable chance of victory, you will be a winner in the long run.

Blackjack players can have an ever bigger advantage if they are skilled at following the cards. Expert mathematicians can track in their head how many face cards are out and will increase their bets if there are many remaining in the deck. The player knows this will improve his odds of getting 20 or 21 and improve the odds of winning. Blackjack is another of the casino games online that is being played at any time of the day or night.

Some players think that succeeding at cards is about intimidating your opponents and reading other players but really it is about statistics. Follow what the odds say and in the long run your will be a winner.



Filed Under: General, Numbers Tagged With: , ,

Math Fun That Helps Develop Critical Thinking Skills and Geometric Shape Understanding

March 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Some of the most interesting parts of math is the ability to develop critical thinking skills. Many critical thinking skills do not require the use of having to add up numbers or develop long equations. Instead critical thinking skills can come in handy for real life situations and even fun games. Here is a look at two of the best ways to develop children’s and adult’s critical thinking skills in a fun exciting way.

Tangrams. Tangrams have been used for centuries to help people understand the various geometric shapes. Tangrams show everyone an image of an animal or character and have the students develop that image using a set of geometric shapes. There are hundreds of images that can be developed and put together. If you don’t want to use some of the pre-set images you can have students cut out shapes using a pattern and make their own tangrams. It really is a fun creative way to not only learn about the various geometric shapes but to develop critical thinking skills.

Patterns. Patterns are everywhere in the world. They are on T-shirts, clothing, blankets and in the designing world. However, patterns are a great way to develop geometric shapes and have a bit of fun doing so. Many teachers will give their students various geometric shapes and encourage them to develop their pattern making skills by creating fun and exciting patterns. This activity can also be turned into an art project because the students can then color and design various layouts that will really stand out.

Filed Under: Mathematics, Numbers Tagged With: , , ,

How to Play Number Word Bingo

March 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

While many people envision school as children sitting there and learning various concepts it is more than just that. Many teachers have started to develop fun and exciting ways for their students to learn the various math concepts that are required by that particular age group. One of the most popular ways to do this is through the use of the popular game bingo.

Math bingo has become an extremely popular way to help children fine tune their math skills and have a little fun doing it. There are so many different ways that you can use math as a part of the bingo game. Here is a look at one way that teachers use bingo as a part of their math course.

One of the most popular games for elementary school children is the number word bingo. Number word bingo is a great way to have children learn how to read the numbers and the words of the numbers. This game is usually reserve for elementary school. A teacher will create a bingo card with the numbers written on it as if it were bingo. They will then create index cards with the number words on it. The child will be required to place a marker over the number word. The game can also be reversed and the child can place markers on the number words while the teacher shows an index card with the numbers on it. When a child has a bingo they can call out bingo just as if it were a regular game of bingo.

Filed Under: Mathematics, Numbers Tagged With: , ,

Fun Math Puzzles for Geeks, & Other Geek-Centric Activities

March 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A Sudoku Cube. Then the puzzle is done, all 6 ...

Image via Wikipedia

Geeks tend to be passionate about things like math, science, computers and technology. You will be hard pressed to find a geek that does not enjoy a good challenge. Fun math puzzles for geeks and other geek-centric activities can take on many different forms depending on the player in question.

The following is just a handful of some of the games, puzzles and other activities that geeks are likely to enjoy participating in… especially if they find themselves taking accounting classes for the problem solving aspect or doing random math problems for fun.

1. Rubik’s Cubes and Mefferts Puzzles

These are physical puzzles that involve matching colors on each sides of the figure. The original puzzle is the Rubik’s cube, which has nine squares on each side that must be reconfigured so that all of the red squares are on one face of the cube, all the white squares on another and so on. Meffert’s Puzzles take this concept even further with other polygons including pyramids and balls.

2. Online Games

Online math games and puzzles are a geek’s dream because they challenge the player and test their math and problem solving skills. Online math games come in a variety of different forms, testing counting skills, multiplication and division abilities, algebra skills and other areas of math. Online versions of Sudoku such as Diagonal Sudoku, Kakuro, Even-Odd Sudoku, Consecutive Sudoku and so on are also available.

3. Paper Puzzles

Brain teasers, math games and pencil games are all examples of paper puzzles that can titillate a geek. Sudoku and various number games along the same line are available in varying levels of difficulty, and so geeks of all ages can enjoy what they have to offer. These games combine math and counting with problem solving and logic skills for a truly enjoyable challenge. Logic puzzles, IQ test puzzles and related paper puzzles are easy to come by and come in a wide variety of different challenges.

4. Geek Board Games

Geeks are often accused of being obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and similar games, but there are a wealth of other card and board games that geeks will enjoy because of the math element and the challenge that they present. Some of these games include Fluxx, Blokus, Kill Doctor Lucky, Gobblet, Candy Poker, Carcassonne, Puerto Rico & San Juan, Caylus, Settlers of Catan, Munchkin and Chez Geek. These are just some of the board games and card games that are popular among geeks.

5. Wooden and Metal Brain Teasers

Although not focused on mathematics, wooden and metal brain teasers are designed to tease and challenge the mind and so are a popular option for geeks. Most have a specific action in mind, such as putting together a cube of random pieces or disconnecting two connected rings, and they take “outside the box” thinking skills in order to be solved.

These are just some of the games, puzzles and challenges that a geek may enjoy. Geeks generally focus on playing games and participating in puzzles that challenge them and force them to use a variety of different logical and problem solving skills. Which game will you try next?

Filed Under: Mathematics, Numbers Tagged With: , ,

Teaching Integers Using a Deck of Cards

March 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Integers are a rather difficult math concept that is usually introduced to students around the sixth grade. The whole concept of positive and negative numbers can be confusing a child that is just starting to develop their math skills. However, through the use of a fun math game like Integer Flash students are able to develop their math skills and use the new concept of integers.

Math games have long been used to inspire children to work on their math skills. The idea of playing games and using a difficult concept has allowed many students to pick up on math concepts that they might have otherwise had difficulties learning. Integer Flash is an example of this type of game.

If you are wondering how to play game Integer Flash here is an overview of how to play the game.

Step One. Start out with a deck of playing cards. You can assign numbers to the face cards such as 11, 12 and 13 should you wish. You will also explain that red cards are negative numbers while the black cards will be positive numbers. You will also decide on what math operating will be used for this round of the game. This can be addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Step Two. You will take two cards from the pile and place them face up on the table. The first card will be used as the first number in the math equation while the second is the second number.

Step Three. The players will be required to shout out the answer to the math equation. The one that gets it right gets to keep all the cards.

Step Four. At the end of the game request that all players count up their cards and the one with the most cards will win the game.

Filed Under: Mathematics, Numbers Tagged With: , ,

Teaching Students Percentages Using the Game Percent Flash

February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Everyone loves to play games especially children. This love of games can be used in the classroom when trying to teach difficult math concepts. Many teachers have started to develop math games that allow the children to use the math concepts they just learned in the classroom in a fun and informative way.

While a lot of the math games are developed around number recognition and figuring out how to add numbers there are multiple math games out there that allow children and students to use difficult math concepts in a fun way. Here is a look at one of the games that have been used to teach difficult math concepts such as percentages of various numbers.

This game is known as percent flash. Percent Flash requires the use of a deck of cards that does not have the face cards in it. The teacher will declare a percentage that the game will play with such as 50%. The teacher will take one card and ask that the students figure out the percentage for that one card. As the game progresses and children learn difficult percentages you can ask for 20% or 35%. You can also use more than one card and ask that the students add the numbers and figure out the percentage for that number. Two ways to keep score is to either reward for correct answers or to award the cards to the student and the one with the most cards wins.

This is a great game to get student to use mental math and figuring out various percentages on different numbers. It is a fun way to inspire children to want to learn and develop their skills in a difficult math concept.

Filed Under: Education, Numbers Tagged With: , , , ,
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