Games || Fun with Fractions and Algebra

Fun with Fractions and AlgebraAuthor(s): Jane ChandlerSource: Mathematics in School, Vol. 26, No. 4, Games (Sep., 1997), pp. 7-20Published by: The Mathematical AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30215298 .

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FUN WITH

FRACTIONS AND

ALGEBRA by Jane Chandler

The three games I offer are entitled 'Fraction Dominoes', 'Fractional Connections' and 'Algebraic Snakes &

Ladders'. The first two games provide practice of equivalent fractions and both have been produced at three levels of difficulty with Level 1 as the simplest. Level 1 contains only the basic fractions, while Level 3 contains more complex fractions. The third game provides practice of solving simple linear equations. The cards for each game were photocopied onto card and cut out, and laminated for extra durability. 'Games packages', containing the cards and the instructions, were made up for the pupils as these could easily be distributed and collected.

Fraction Dominoes The Rules

This is a game for two to four players which practises equivalent fractions

Contents of Game Package: Rule sheet, 28 dominoes

10

10

1

4

Extra Equipment: None

Winner: The first player to use up all of their dominoes.

Each domino is divided into two parts with a value on each part.

A double domino is one in which both parts have an equivalent value.

Place all of the dominoes face down on the table and mix them about.

Each player takes six dominoes.

Each player places their dominoes face up in front of themselves.

The remaining dominoes become the draw pile.

The player who has the highest double begins by laying this in the middle of the table.

If no player has a double each player takes another domino from the draw pile. This continues until a double is found.

Play continues to the left with the next player trying to match the value of one of the parts of their domino with the value of the double domino and laying it with the matching values next to each other.

There are now two ends on which dominoes can be laid.

Play continues with each player in turn matching equivalent values on one part of their own dominoes to one of the ends of the laid dominoes.

If a player is unable to go they must draw from the draw pile.

If this new domino is able to be played during that turn the player must play it.

Play continues until one player has used up all of their dominoes.

Mathematics in School, September 1997 7



Fractional Connections

The Rules

This is a game for two players which practises equivalent fractions

Contents of Game Package: Rule sheet, 25 playing cards, 1 game board

4

12

Extra Equipment: Pencil and paper

Winner: The first player to fill all of the boxes on their side of the board.

Each card has a fraction value on it. The wild card can be any number.

Select one player to be the dealer.

The Dealer shuffles the pack of cards and deals six cards to each player.

The Dealer then places the remaining pile of cards face down on the table. They are called the deck.

Each player places their cards face up in front of them.

The player who was not the dealer places one of their cards on one of the left-hand boxes on the game board.

The second player then puts a card in a box on the right hand side of the board. If this card is opposite one on the left-hand side it must match the relationship shown by the symbol.

For example

1 1 1 1 > or <

2 4 2 4 This symbol means

greater than so this is correct

This symbol means less than so this is

wrong

Every time a player completes a relationship they may have another turn.

If a player puts down a card wrongly and is challenged they must pick up the card and that is the end of their go.

If a player is unable to go they must take a card from the deck and wait for their next turn.

Play continues until a player has filled all of their side of the board.

Once the board is full copy it down onto paper.

8

Algebraic Snakes and Ladders

The Rules

This is a game for two players which practises solving equations

Contents of Game Package: Rule Sheet, 35 playing cards, 1 game board, 2 counters

Extra Equipment: Pencil and paper (or exercise book).

Winner: The first player to reach the finish.

Each card has an equation on it.

Select one player to be the dealer.

The Dealer shuffles the pack of cards and places it face down on the table.

Each player chooses a coloured counter.

Each player places their counter on the 'start' space on the game board.

The player who was not the Dealer turns over the top card of the pack and solves the equation in their exercise book.

After finding the value for x the player moves their counter that number of spaces.

For example

Equation: 3x = 9.

Therefore: x = 3.

The counter would move forward 3 spaces.

The player then places the card face down at the bottom of the pack.

The Dealer then turns over the top card of the pack a card and solves the equation in their exercise book.

After finding the value of x the dealer moves their counter that number of spaces.

The dealer then places the card face down at the bottom of the pack.

Play continues in turn until a player reaches the finish space.

If a counter arrives at the foot of a ladder it must be moved to the top of the ladder.

If a counter arrives at the head of a snake it must be moved to the tail of the snake.

If a player solves an equation wrongly and is challenged by their opponent, they must return the card to the pack and that is the end of their turn.

Author Jane Chandler, Kesteven and Grantham Girls School, Sandon Road, Grantham, NG31 9AU.

Mathematics in School, September 1997



Equivalent Fraction Dominoes Level 1

2 4 1 1

2 4 2

5 1 10 1

5 3 10 4

3 1 1

4 5

2 1 2 5

2 10 4 10

1

~2

2 5 2

4 1 10 10

1

3





1 1 3

3 4 -i14

1 1

3 10

1

4

1 1

4 5

3 3 2

4 1 4 10

1 1

10 5

2 1

10 10

10 Mathematics in School, September 1997




1 2 2

3 6 3

1 3 1

3 4 5

2 1 1 1

6 6 3 8

1 4

10 6

4 2

6 3

6 3

8 4





2 6 1

10 8 6

3 1 1

4 8 1 10

1 2

5 10

1 1 1

6 6 8

1

10





2 ,

.......

4 3

3 6 4

6 2 2 5

9 5 3 6

7 4 1

8 6 9

6 3 6

9 10 8

3

4

6 3

8 4

4 2

10 5





5 4 7

6 10 8

2 1 3

5 9 10

7 7 1

8 8 9

3 1

10 9

3

10




Fractional Connection Game Board

I__ _

I I

II

_




Fractional Connection Level 1

1 2 5 1

2 4 10 4

2 3 1 2

8 12 5 10

1 2 1

10 20

1 2 2 3

3 6 3 4

2 3 Wild Wild Wild

5 5 Card Card Card





1 2 3 4 1

4 8 12 16 3

2 3 4 2 4

6 9 12 3 6

6 3 6 9 1

9 4 8 12 5

2 1 2 1 1

10 6 12 8 10

3 7 Wild Wild Wild

5 10 Card Card Card





2 4 6 8 3

3 6 9 12 4

6 9 12 2 4

8 12 16 5 10

6 5 10 15 3

15 6 12 18 8

6 1 2 7 5

16 9 18 8 7

2 3 Wild Wild Wild

9 10 Card Card Card




Snakes and Ladders Board

FINISH 68 '

67 66 65 64 63

56 57 58 9 60 61 62

i55 54 53 52 51 50 49

42 43 44 45 46 47 48

41 40 39 38 37 36 35

2 9 30 31 '32 33 34

27,e 26 !25 24 23 22 21

14 15 16 17 1 8 9 20

13 12 11 10 9 8 7

START 1 2 3 4 5 6




Cards for Snakes and Ladders

x+4=7 x - 10 = 12 3x = 12 3x - 4 = 26 x+2=5

x+2=3 x-4=5 x+3=5 x+7=12 x-3=3

x -1= 10 x - 3= 9 2x = 8 3x = 15 2x = 12

3x= 21 4x= 32 6x= 54 3x= 33 3x + 4= 19

2x + 5 = 9 6x - 4 = 20 2x - 5 = 1 8x - 9 = 7 6 + x = 7

x=4 x=4 x=1 x=1 x=2 2 3 2 3 5

8x+ 1= 25 5x-2= 23 7x-7= 14 5x-9= 21 x+2x= 12




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Games || Fun with Fractions and Algebra