A Look at A Fun Informative Game Used to Teach Math Equations

A popular math game that children love to play is a game called the Add em Up. This game focuses on allowing children to develop their mental math skills, learn how to add, subtract, and multiply as well as creating equations and long lines of math equations. If you are wondering how to play the game of Add up Up here is a look at how to play this fun, informative game.

To start the game you will need to have a deck of cards as well as some pens, pencils or paper. These are essential to the game playing experience.

Rules of the Game

Step One. You will explain to the players that they are playing a game that requires them to add, subtract or multiply the numbers that will be presented. They must try to come up with the highest or lowest number possible using the numbers given.

Step Two. You will deal out three to four cards. The children will look at the cards and try to figure out an equation that will match what you asked them to do. The winner is the child that creates the closest number to what your instructions asked for.

Step Three. During the game you can increase the amount of cards that are played as this will add a challenge. Other variations on this game include giving one single number that the children will have to come close to while they are playing the game. For example, you can ask children to come as close as they can to the number 15. The winner would be the person who created an equation or figured out how to make the numbers get to 15.

Using A Pack of Playing Cards to Understand Numbers

7 of spades.

Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to learning various math concepts children love to have some type of visual aid that they can use to understand the concepts that are being presented. One of the most popular ways that people like to teach their children math concepts is through the use of a pack of cards. Packs of playing cards contain the numbers one through ten and can really help a child learn various math skills in a fun way.

Here is a look at some of the card playing games people have used to teach various math skills.

The Number Line Game. This is a game where you shuffle all the playing cards in a deck. You will then deal the cards to the players face up. When all cards have been dealt the object of the game is to sort the cards into numerical sequences. If there is a number missing you just skip it and use the next number. The older a child gets you can try to add a twist like having to make all the suits match or only having sequences of even numbers, odd numbers or multiples of three. This is a great way for children to learn number sequences and learn how to skip over numbers that might normally be in the math sequence. This game can also be played by single students or in groups as a competitive game.

Matching Games. Matching games are played like the traditional game of concentration. A dealer will take all the cards and place them on the table. The players will take turns turning over the cards and trying to find matches with the numbers. When a match is not found the next person goes and so forth. Matching games can also be played in groups or with single students. This game promotes the ability for children to recognize numbers and can even improve the memory skills of the child.

Can Math Help You Win the Lottery?

Nearly everyone dreams of winning big in the lottery at some point in their lives. The daydream often runs wild as people consider what they would do with their winnings. Would they share it among family members? Give to a worthy cause? Buy a new home or two? Take a spectacular vacation? As a big lottery winner, the options would be endless.

But in reality, winning the lottery is pretty long odds. For example, the odds of winning the popular Mega Millions drawing are roughly 1 in 135,145,920. But is there anything you can do to improve your chances of winning? Actually, there is. You can use math.

The Internet is full of “programs” that claim to teach you how to win the lottery. But if you are tempted to buy one of these programs, you must be careful. Most are useless, especially those that do not have a mathematical foundation. The best systems – or any system you might create for yourself – create a mathematical formula from information based on math, statistics and logic. To be successful, you must understand how the lottery game you are playing is organized. How many total balls are in play? How do the winnings break down? Knowing this information will allow you to calculate the odds and choose the numbers or mix of numbers that have the best chance at making you a winner.

You should be able to find statistical charts on the Internet that you can use to help develop your formula. Be sure to look for one that comes with clear instructions on how to use it, or you will be no better off than when you began. Don’t waste your time or your money on something that doesn’t make any sense.

Finally, while math really can improve your chances of becoming a lottery winner, keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of the game is luck and luck alone. Good luck to you!

Kids Learn Math Skills with Rubik’s Cube

Semantic Web Rubik's Cube

Image by dullhunk via Flickr

If you lived through the 1980s, you are no doubt familiar with the Rubik’s Cube. The summer the cube was introduced, it swept the country. Adults and children could be found working on the puzzles nearly everywhere you looked. For those that didn’t live through the 80s, the Rubik’s Cube is a plastic cube puzzle comprised of a series of brightly colored mini-cubes. The object is to twist the cubes on the puzzle’s horizontal and vertical axis until each side of the larger cube is comprised of only one color of mini-cubes. It’s a fun puzzle for many, and a frustrating puzzle for many more. But now some teachers are using the popular puzzle to teach math to elementary school students.

The company that owns the rights to the Rubik’s Cube, which was invented by Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor Ernő Rubik, has developed a math curriculum that teaches students to solve the puzzle with simple instructions and illustrations. The company says about 90 percent of students can solve the puzzle based on the instructions.

Teachers say using the Rubik’s Cube as a math lesson teaches students geometry and algebra. It also helps students understand the importance of following directions, and not giving up in the face of frustration. Students also gain confidence from being able to solve the puzzle, especially when they are able to solve it in front of an adult who is struggling with it.

The company that owns the cube sells classroom kits that include the cubes, instruction guides, a DVD and certifications of completion that can be awarded to students who successfully solve the puzzle. If you home school, or if you think using the Rubik’s Cube in this fashion would simply be a good boost to your child’s classroom math activities, other versions of the program are available online for free.

2 + 2 Equals Human Advancement

Don’t knock the nerdy math teacher. Yes, many of us didn’t care for calculus in high school, and some of us aren’t good with numbers at all. But let’s face it — mathematics is one of the only truly universal languages out there. Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing — they’re the basis for everything we do in life and how we operate. Even with words and writing, numbers exist!

Here’s the truth: if you have a love for mathematics and are generally good with numbers, you basically have a ton of options at your fingertips as far as online programs out there for education. Think of the possibilities: accounting, general mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, astronomy, and so many more. All of it revolves around numbers. The use of mathematics! Some of these majors lead to some of the most important jobs to date in the world.

Don’t worry; you don’t have to sit in a classroom and be bored by lectures about numbers. Because as said before, numerous online programs exist out there that allow you to do your coursework from the comfort of your own home. Deal with the numbers, do the work, get the grades, and you’re set. While you actually might not have the patience for numbers, if you’re good with them, utilize that! The best advancements in humanity revolve around numbers. So don’t be afraid of math. Thankfully, once you’re ready to go with the highest quality experience for some of the best jobs out there — astronomy and engineering — you’ll notice that all your past boring days of calculus learning and the fraction stuff will simply fade away into memory. The bottom line is your use of numbers will mesh into your basic process of working. It will become your mantra, your code of work ethic.

As said before, don’t knock the nerdy math teacher. Passing on math knowledge — nurturing a young math genius who will later do great things in life — is one of the most important jobs there is.

Playing with numbers

A nonomino sudoku solution
Image via Wikipedia

The need of mathematics in today’s life is heightened with the availability of the virtual world of internet. The vast availability of internet has included all other regions under its spectrum. The virtual gaming world is now available online. The games such as Sudoku, poker, casino games such as roulette are based entirely on numbers. For playing these games one should be well versed in mathematics. These games require logical thinking on numbers. Research on the numbers helps in playing these games easily. The use of mathematics is not limited to this purpose. There is whole lot of need of basic mathematics in our life. To calculate the total amount of the products we buy, to calculate weight, height, in fact to count anything we have to be well versed in this subject. Maths skills are tested in such situations. If one fails to calculate correctly then one might end up making a disastrous mistake or an embarrassing situation.
Mathematical research is a wide spectrum in which one is suppose to undertake a vast research process. Grothendieck was a French mathematician who undertook such a research and invented various approaches towards this subject. His immense contribution in mathematics developed this subject to a great extent. Playing with numbers becomes easy when a person has correct approach towards maths. Research process helps in achieving this easily. Numbers have become an integral part of gaming. If you want to become a good player then make sure you are well versed in maths. One really stands out if they have confidence over this subject. Solving everyday things becomes so easy. With this one can play the virtual games of numbers and can be a winner there too. It’s an overall concept and a person knowledgeable in mathematics can surely be a winner and can have fun with numbers.