Algebra Exercises

Algebra Exercises

Algebra Exercises (MathPickle, 2013) These three exercises go from easy to unsolved. It is this last unsolved problem from the nineteenth century that is absolutely essential in every student’s experience of algebra. Chess helps you to concentrate, improve your...
Number Guessing Game – algebra

Number Guessing Game – algebra

Paired Sums – Number Guessing Game (Leo Moser, 1957) This is a great game to play with your class as they struggle to figure out how to add integers. PS. Keep the selections between about -5 and +5. Use the word “about” as you do not want students to...
Algebra on Rectangles

Algebra on Rectangles

This is a single variable algebra puzzle in which students try to find squares of different sizes to tile a rectangle. I prefer the two variable algebra variant on the right. Get students to create their own history puzzles. Algebra on Rectangles (R. L. Brooks, C. A....
Wrongifying Operators

Wrongifying Operators

Wrongifying Operators (MathPickle, 2012) Epic failure of arithmetic – when our operators (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) fail to give us the answer! It is fun for students to see when things don’t work. It also forces them to be...
Fractions = Decimals using Algebra

Fractions = Decimals using Algebra

Desimal Deja-vu (MathPickle, 2013) Fractions and decimals are connected in magical ways. Here we convert from fractions to decimals and from decimals to fractions. This requires algebra. There’s a good case to be made that having fun is a key evolutionary...