by MathPickle | Sep 16, 2015 |
In fractured fractions, your students cover a pixelated image with rectangles. You must choose the rectangles carefully so that the fraction covered matches the given fractions. Here we have a yellow submarine with given fractions 1/2 and 1/3. Does this...
by MathPickle | Sep 16, 2015 |
Thirsty fractions (MathPickle, 2013) In a bar I once overheard the proverbial argument “glass-half-full” versus “glass-half-empty.” A second later my own beer arrived and the waiter inexpertly poured it with the beer glass at the wrong angle so...
by MathPickle | Sep 16, 2015 |
Unfair Thrones (MathPickle, 2013) This was MathPickle’s first puzzle to get into the New York Times. It is perfect to give students motivation to subtract fractions and turn the result into a percentage. Start the class by naming an empress and getting her to...
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...
