#mathgamemonday — Public Fediverse posts

Math Game Monday: Greedy Pig

This game tests each player’s risk tolerance as they roll dice to rack up points.

Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math!

This game tests each player’s risk tolerance as they roll dice to rack up points.

Greedy Pig

Math Concepts: addition, probability of dice rolls, strategic thinking.

Players: two or more.

Equipment: two 6-sided dice, pen and paper for keeping score.

How to Play

Players agree on a target score, such as 100. The first player to reach or pass the target wins the game.

Roll two dice as many times as you want, adding the numbers to your score. Stop when you wish, and pass the dice to the next player.

Beware: If you roll a 1 before you stop, you lose all the points you added during that turn. If you roll double-1, your score resets to zero.

Optional House Rule: If you roll doubles other than double-1, you have to roll again. You can’t end your turn on doubles.

Variation

Use the game as a journaling prompt. Here are some sample questions:

• What is your strategy for winning?

• Do you think this is a fair game, or does one player have an advantage?

• How would you count score, so you could compare your performance from one game to the next?

• How would you modify the game rules? Is your version easier or harder than the original game?

• Do you prefer logical strategy games or games of chance? Or do the best games have a bit of both? Explain.

History

Pig is a folk-game cousin to Farkle and was first described in print by American magician and author John Scarne in his 1945 book Scarne on Dice.

 
* * *

Math Game Monday: The Number That Must Not Be Named

This challenging game stretches everyone’s working memory and offers children the delightful possibility of stumping an adult.

Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s play some math!

The Number That Must Not Be Named

Math Concepts: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, integers, fractions, factoring, powers and roots, prime numbers, and other number properties.

Players: two or more (a cooperative game).

Equipment: none.

Set-Up

Because all calculations are done mentally, players must agree on what types of numbers are allowed. For example, beginners may want to start with the positive whole numbers 1–100. As players gain experience, you can expand the range of possibilities.

How to Play

The first player names any number within the permissible range. Players take turns naming mathematical operations, performing each calculation mentally but never saying their answer aloud.

For example, suppose the first player names “15.” Turns may then proceed as follows, with the number changing as shown in parentheses:

• “Times two.” (30)
• “Divided by five.” (6)
• “Squared.” (36)
• “Subtract it from one hundred.” (64)
• “Square root.” (8)
• “Cube root.” (2)
• “To the fifth power.” (32)
• “Plus one.” (33)
• “Nearest prime number.” (31)
• etc.

Players try to show style by naming operations that haven’t been used, especially something particular to the current number. Since the last calculation left the number at thirty-one, you might say “plus sixty-nine.” This proves you’ve been paying attention and gives everyone’s brain a brief rest on the nice, round number 100.

If a player names a calculation that makes no sense or that takes the number outside the agreed-upon range, that player is out of the game.

At any time, one player may challenge another to name the current number. If the challenged player says the wrong number, that player drops out of the game. But if the answer is correct, then the challenger is out.

The game continues until only one player remains, or until the players decide to stop.

History

When I was a kid, our teachers used to make students keep up with a long chain of mental calculations. This game offers students a chance to fight back and see if they can stump the teacher.

I found the game on Joel David Hamkins’s blog. Your children may also enjoy his Rule-Making Game:

• jdh.hamkins.org/the-rule-making-game

 
* * *