FLOOR VERSION
Copyright 2000 themathlab.com

OBJECT:
Each team will roll six balls onto the course. Players will record the terms where the balls stop, and then arrange these terms using each of the operations +, -, x, /, ^ and at least one set of parentheses to create the highest valued expressions possible. Each operation and the parentheses MUST BE USED AT LEAST ONCE.

The winner of the round is the player with the highest valued expression. Play as many rounds as you like. Player with the highest total is the CHAMPION.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

HOW TO PLAY:

Players sit on the floor across from each other about 12 feet apart. The floor between you is your game board.

Take the six pieces of string and arrange them into closed, amorphous, shapes on the floor. Make sure that none of the shapes overlap.

Now cut out one of the set of terms, and lay a term in the middle of each shape. Your game board is now ready for play.
* We recommend reshaping the course each round for more variation. Each set of terms has twelve different terms so that you can change them out as you like.

First, you will roll the die to determine the sign of the variable. If you roll an even number the sign is POSITIVE. If you roll an odd number the sign is NEGATIVE. Record this on the scorecard.

Second, you will roll the die again to get the value of the variable. Your value will be the number which comes up on the die. Record this on the scorecard.

Third, players will get the terms for their expressions by taking turns rolling the balls out onto the "course".

Players should aim for the terms that will generate the highest valued expressions using the variable that has been rolled.
(Don't forget to take into consideration what happens if your variable is NEGATIVE.)
Players write these terms on their scorecard in the terms boxes.

NOTE: If a ball fails to land in one of the shapes, players should record the term which is closest. A measuring tape may be necessary to determine the closest.

At this point, each player is on their own. They have 3 minutes to arrange the terms and sets of parentheses into an expression that they believe will generate the largest value once the variable is inserted.

Each player must show the expression on the paper, show the substitution of the variable into their expression, and then show all the work to evaluate it.

The final value of the expression will then be placed in the "Score this round:" box.

Players need to CHECK EACH OTHER'S WORK, for if one of them is wrong, they are disqualified for that round.

The player with the largest valued expression wins the round.

At the end of eight rounds (or however many rounds you have agreed to play) the player with the highest total score is CHAMPION.

*Players can always challenge each other by checking any expression with a scientific calculator. Incorrect mathematics results in disqualification for the round.

VARIATIONS ON THE GAME:

SELF PLAY TIMED:

Set a timer for 10 minutes. See if you can make 10,000 points before it rings.

SELF PLAY UNTIMED:

Play four untimed rounds to get a baseline total score for yourself.
Challenge yourself to beat your best total score with the next four rounds.

TEAM VERSION:

Play as a team, and add the values of all expressions each round. See if your team can make 1,000,000 points by the end of round eight.

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TERMS:

Below are three sets of terms. Each set should give you enough variety for a full eight rounds of fun play.

Term Set 1:

100	x	x^2
-100	-x	-x^2
50	3x	2x^2
-50	-3x	-2x^2

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Term Set 2:

30	x	x^2
-30	-x	-x^2
75	-4x	3x^2
-75	4x	-3x^2

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Term Set 3:

25	x	x^2
-25	-x	-x^2
10	5x	2x^2
-10	-5x	-2x^2

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ROLL THE DIE:

 

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