Thirsty fractions

Thirsty fractions

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...
Unfair Thrones

Unfair Thrones

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...
Mondrian Art Puzzles (multiplication, algebra)

Mondrian Art Puzzles (multiplication, algebra)

Mondrian Art Puzzles People who gaze upon a piece of Mondrian art should ask how he decided which colors to paint where.  The disgruntled person may even ask what the piece of artwork might have looked like if Mondrian had taken the time to color it all in… In...
Recamán’s Sequence

Recamán’s Sequence

Wreckerball & Recamán’s Sequence (Bernardo Recamán, 1995) What a delicious way to play on the number line! In these sequences you jump about by increasing intervals. The patterns that result are chaotic and beautiful. Nothing must be advanced in a positive...
Place Value

Place Value

Place Value (MathPickle, 2011) Some number systems use place value – others do not. This video takes you on a tour of number systems including Egyptian, Arabic, Babylonian, Montessori and Scientific Notation. Ron Goodman has edited the video for younger students...