Chapter 9 - XYZ Custom Plus

Chapter 9 Projects
Solving Equations and Inequalities
group PROJECT
The Equation Game
Number of People
Time Needed
Equipment
Background
Procedure
2–5
30 minutes
Per group: deck of cards, timer or clock, pencil
and paper, copy of rules.
The Equation Game is a fun way to practice
working with equations.
Remove all the face cards from the deck. Aces
will be 1’s. The dealer deals four cards face up,
a fifth card face down. Each player writes down
the four numbers that are face up. Set the timer
for 5 minutes, then flip the fifth card. Each player
writes down equations that use the numbers on
the first four cards to equal the number on the
fifth card. When the five minutes are up, figure
out the scores. An equation that uses
Example
1 of the four cards scores 0 points
2 of the four cards scores 4 points
3 of the four cards scores 9 points
4 of the four cards scores 16 points
Check the other players’ equations. If you find
an error, you get 7 points. The person with the
mistake gets no points for that equation.
The first four cards are a four, a nine, an ace,
and a two. The fifth card is a seven. Here are
some equations you could make:
9 2 2 5 7
4 1 2 1 1 5 7
9 2 (4 2 2) 5 7
1
One solution (9 points)
*This project was adapted from www.exploratorium.edu/math_explorer/fantasticFour.html.
Chapter 9
Projects
575