by MathPickle | Nov 28, 2016 |
Uncracked 114 (Diophantus of Alexandria, c. 215-290) Students working with exponents should be asked to find which values of n from 0-100 are possible by summing the cubes of three positive integers: a^3 + b^3 + c^3 = n. Next, ask if the cubes can be negative. This is...
by MathPickle | Nov 22, 2016 |
The Broken Sword (MathPickle, 2016) Broken Swords may be used for students using only addition, but older students can employ both multiplication and division to make the exploration more efficient. For other ideas about how to introduce Broken Swords, see my blog...
by MathPickle | Oct 6, 2016 |
Before the wise builder builds – the wise builder thinks. Here we are going to build the foundations of a great skyscraper – Taipei 101. Start with a 6×6 grid. Add numbers or letters or colors to the top left part of the grid as shown. Now is the...
by MathPickle | Sep 15, 2016 |
Pair up students. Each student writes 0 to 4 in a ring and then secretly assigns + and – to each. Later on they can challenge each other with 0 to 5 rings or even larger. Each partner duplicates their ring – possibly rotating it so the zeros are not...
by MathPickle | Sep 14, 2016 |
This spinning centrifuge has a matching set of -1 (South) and +1 (North) magnets on the inner and outer ring. The inner ring is the one that spins. You must try to find a combination of +1s and -1s so that when it is rotated away from this all-repulsive position there...
