by MathPickle | Sep 16, 2015 |
Half Fraction Snake (MathPickle, 2013) This is the best puzzle to introduce students to fractions. It was the third MathPickle puzzle to get into the New York Times. Why is it so good to introduce fractions? Because only 1/2 is used – that’s the secret. I...
by MathPickle | Sep 16, 2015 |
Ballast Puzzles The objective of this puzzle is to find those warships that will tip over because of improper ballast. Start by getting them to understand ballast... It is something heavy that you put in the bottom of a boat so it doesn't tip. I sometimes do a...
by MathPickle | Sep 16, 2015 |
Lazy Lemur Multiplication Let's start with an example. 01746 is good for lazy lemur multiplication because you can multiply it by a digit greater than one so that all five digits get shuffled, but remain the same. Students are lazy lemurs. As soon as they discover...
by MathPickle | Sep 16, 2015 |
Lichen Puzzles (MathPickle, 2013) These are difficult puzzles – not the puzzle you want to start exploring multiplication, but there are rich ideas here that are worthy of exploration. I now call these puzzles Lichen Puzzles… Download printable Lichen...
by MathPickle | Sep 16, 2015 |
Toothpick, Vampire and Domino Sequences (Clifford Pickover, 1994) Recreational mathematics is on the fringes of mathematics, but its real worth is in mathematical pedagogy. Vampire Numbers are a perfect example. They are ridiculous. Most mathematicians would not take...
