Posts Tagged ‘Simple Algebra’

Trick 1: The Great MATHoudini

September 18, 2018

The Great MATHoudini

Requirements: 1 phone book, Great showmanship

Start by handing one member of the class a sealed envelope. It contains a name that you have seen in your mathematical mind.

All will be revealed at the end of the performance.

Ask one student to write a 3-digit number on the board.

Ask a second student to turn this number around and subtract the smallest number from the largest number.

Ask a third student to turn that number around and add the last two numbers.

Example: N1 = 371.

N2 = 173

N1 – N2 = N3 = 371 – 173 = 198

N4 = 891

N4 – N3 = 891 + 198 = 1089

Give a fourth student a phone book. Ask them to go to page 108 and count down 9 places on the first column and read out the name.

Now open the envelope.

Da! Da!

How does it work? The numbers ALWAYS add up to 1089 so you had plenty of time to check out the name in the phone book.

Source: Magic/Menatalism Tips and Tricks

Posted in 10 Mentalist Maths Tricks, Arithmetic, Junior School, Mentalist Maths, Middle School, Year 7 mathspig, Year 9 Mathspig | Tagged 10 mentalist maths tricks, Awesome, back to school, demonstration, end of year maths fun, engaging, exercise, Houdini maths, Math, maths fun, Middle school, Simple Algebra, surprising, teacher, trick | 3 Comments »

m+m maths 4: How many m+ms will kill my dog?

June 22, 2015

You can find more Death by Chocolate Maths here and here.

Posted in 7 m+m maths challenges, algebra, decimals, Junior School, Middle School, Units Volume, Year 7 mathspig, Year 9 Mathspig | Tagged %, Algebra fun, calculate, decimals, dog, Fun, gambling equations make big bucks, how many, kill, m&ms, Maths, Middle school, project, Simple Algebra, Weight | 2 Comments »

MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig …………………………………………………. with Kerry Cue

January 2, 2015

Hellooooooooo Sweeties,

This has to be the best way to save the planet. Yes! Eat up my little lovelies. For every kilo you pack on, you reduce your carbon footprint. Isn’t that the best news for piggies everywhere!!!!! You will find the yummy maths here:

How to pig out and save the planet

Meanwhile, here are some other mathsy things to do with pigging out for fun and profit:

Who uses more calories to travel 10 km: mini or man?

How far do you have to walk to walk off 1 kg of fat?

How far can a biodiesel car drive on 1 kg of human fat?

………………………………………………………………………..

Cheerio my Chubbies

Mathspig

Posted in mathspig, Middle School, Rates, statspig | Tagged biodiesel, carbon footprint, diet, funny maths, gambling equations make big bucks, Harry Potter Maths, How far can a car drive on 1 kg human fat?, how far do you have to walk to lose 1kg?, human fat, Joke Maths, Math %, Middle School Math, pig out, Simple Algebra, Where does fat go? | Leave a Comment »

MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig MathsPig …………………………………………………. with Kerry Cue

July 31, 2014

Hellooooooooo Sweeties,

Mathspig is always bemused that politicians (all shades), who struggle with maths of the economy, taxes and even their own expense accounts, suddenly become experts on how to teach maths.

Back to Basics is the current catch cry of politicians around the world … to win votes, of course. But what does it mean?:

Back to the 1950s?

With class sizes of 50, student reports stating ‘Margret was 33^rd in the grade’ and the ‘strap’ waiting at the ready in the teacher’s desk draw.

Back to the 1960s?

When maths wasn’t taught to girls. (In Year 8 Mathspig went to a convent. The nuns only taught arithmetic.)

Back to the 1970s?

When the school curriculum was seen by some to be class-based patriarchal propaganda. Some schools stopped scoring football games to prevent the elitist paradigm spreading.

Today?

For some Back to Basics means Direct Instruction: a rigid, repetitious form of maths instruction when maths can be so much more. See Beware Maths Fundamentalists