Negative Integers
This is a fantastic activity that can be used either to introduce algebra and / or negative integers.
Wreckerball sequences are great to allow students to jump around positive and negative integers.
Students can play with variations of the famous 1937 Collatz conjecture. Here we look at two. Students can also come up with their own Collatz-like conjectures. Brian Kehrig, a 15 year old student asked about the behaviour of the following Collatz-like idea:
Start with a positive integer. If it is a multiple of 3… then multiply it by five and add one.
Otherwise… divide by three and round to the closest integer.
Please use MathPickle in your classrooms. If you have improvements to make, please contact me. I'll give you credit and kudos 😉 For a free poster of MathPickle's ideas on elementary math education go here.
Gordon Hamilton
(MMath, PhD)
