Mathématiques + jeu = combinaison gagnante
Math + Game = Fun
Savais-tu que de nombreux jeux font appel aux
Did you know that many games use
mathématiques? Pour le comprendre, il suffit de
mathematics? We use dice, add and subtract
penser à l’utilisation de dés, à l’addition ou la
points, and often move pieces in specific ways,
soustraction de points ou encore aux pions qui ne
dictated by mathematics. The mathematical
peuvent être déplacés que d’une manière
equations of many games also tell us how the
prédéterminée. Les équations mathématiques
game ends; for example, the winner might be
intégrées à ces jeux déterminent la façon de gagner le
the first player to get a total of 500 points, or
jeu, par exemple lorsque qu’une personne cumule 500
might be the person to match up the most cards
points ou lorsque toutes les cartes ont été mises en
in pairs.
paires.
Try the following games and experiments to see
Fais les jeux et les expériences suivantes pour
just how much fun math can be! And, next time
comprendre à quel point les mathématiques peuvent
you play a game, study the rules to see if
être amusantes. La prochaine fois que tu feras un jeu,
mathematics decides how you win.
examine les règles pour voir si les mathématiques
déterminent les conditions gagnantes.
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Roman Numeral Memory Game
Did you know that our way of writing numbers—from 0 to 9—is not the only way to write them? Many
languages have their own numbering systems. Several centuries ago, there were many more ways of
writing numbers, one of which is still important to us today: Roman numerals. This little game will help you
to read Roman numerals and match them to their proper numerical value.
Supplies :



paper
coloured pencils
ruler


scissors
glue stick
Let’s Get to Work!
1. Using the paper, mark and cut out 20 rectangles, each
measuring 5 cm by 5 cm.
2. On the first 10 cards, one card at a time, write the
numbers 1 to 10, so that you end up with a set of ten
cards.
3. On the other 10 cards, also one card at a time, write the Roman numerals I to X as shown on the table
below, to make another set of ten cards.
4. Decorate the back of each card with a drawing or a sticker.
5. You are now ready to play the memory game.
How to Play :
Get to know the number conversion table: see how the Romans wrote their numbers and how they
compare to our numbers.
II. Take the cards and make a deck; shuffle them well.
III. Lay out the cards in rows, face down.
IV. Turn over two cards, one at a time. If they have the same value, remove them from the game. If not,
replace them face down.
V. Repeat until all the cards have been paired up.
Reading Roman Numerals:
There is no
zero in Roman
numerals. If
the
mathematical
answer was
zero, they
wrote the word
“nothing”. Roman numerals are represented with symbols, which
combine to create numbers. Instead of combining the
value I (equivalent to our number 1) for all numbers,
symbols are used to shorten the figures. For example,
the number 4 is written as “IV”—this indicates the
number before 5, which is expressed with a “V”. The
same thing happens for 9, which is written as “IX”
instead of “VIIII”. Remember, if an “I” is found before a
letter, you subtract it from the letter that follows; if the I
is after the letter, you add it.
How would you write the number 27 in Roman numerals?
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Arab
Numeral
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Roman
Numeral
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
(Answer : XXVII)
I.
Mobius Strip Racetrack
This brainteaser was discovered by mathematician Augustus Möbius in
1858. At first glance, this strip of paper seems to have a never-ending
surface that defies logic, but it’s really just math! To see for yourself,
make this simple racetrack game out of a strip of paper.
Supplies :
 construction paper
 scissors
 tape
 modelling clay
 coloured pencils
 long wooden stick, such as a
bamboo skewer
Let’s Get to Work!
Many racing videogames use the Mobius strip when designing a racetrack.
You can do the same at home.
1. Cut a strip of construction paper measuring about 50 cm long by 5
cm wide. (You can tape two pieces of paper together to get the
desired length.)
2. Draw some racetrack designs on both sides of the strip, such as
brick walls, trees, obstacles in the road, dotted lines, a start/finish
line, or flags.
3. Twist the strip and tape the ends together.
4. To make your Mobius strip stand up on its own, pierce two holes
through the middle of the loop and poke the skewer through both
holes.
5. Use modelling clay to secure the skewer to the strip.
6. Use the modelling clay as a base to make the skewer stand up. You
can also put a bit of modelling clay on top of the skewer to keep the
strip from sliding off.
The Mobius strip has only
one side. If you draw a
line down the centre of
the strip, you will never
have to flip over the
paper to end up back at
your starting point. The
Mobius strip also has only
one edge. Make a little
mark on one edge of the
paper as a starting point,
then run your finger
along the edge. You will
not need to lift your
finger to end up back at
your mark. You now have a great little racetrack to play with!
Step 2
Step 3
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Step 6
Tangram—A Game of Shapes
Use geometry and your artistic skills to play with this puzzle, called a “tangram”. Arrange the 7
puzzle pieces in different ways to create many images. Be creative with geometry, and make
up your own tangram challenges and solutions.
Supplies


printed tangram template, included in
this activity
cardboard (such as a cereal box)



markers or coloured pencils
scissors
glue stick
Let’s Get to Work!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Print the out tangram template.
Colour each piece on the template in a different colour.
To make your puzzle pieces strong, glue the page to a piece of cardboard.
Cut along all of the black lines, so that you end up with seven different coloured pieces.
How to Play
Using only your coloured pieces, you must try to make the outline (or outlined) image. There is only
one solution for each tangram challenge. You must move your pieces around and try various
combinations in order to make the shape.
For example, you can create a sailboat by arranging the pieces like this:
To test your tangram skills, see if you can use all seven pieces to make the two
images below.
You can find
tangram puzzle
books at the
library or on the
Internet. You can
find the answers
to these
tangrams in the
Suggestions
section.
CHALLENGE!
What other images can you make using your seven tangram shapes? Get creative! Trace the outline
of your final image and challenge a friend to make it with the tangram pieces.
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Delicious Chocolatey Mathematics
Cooking itself is a scientific experiment. Did you know that mathematics are very important when we
use a recipe? Here’s a recipe for delicious brownies—using mathematics!
Supplies




large measuring bowl
measuring cups
measuring spoons
wooden spoon




microwave-safe bowl
oven mitts
recipe ingredients below
square 8-inch cake pan



calculator
toothpick
scale
Recipe
Did you know? Not all recipes use the same units of measurement to describe quantities of
ingredients. Some use millilitres (ml); others use cups. Luckily, it is easy to convert measurements
from one to the other with simple mathematics. Convert the units in the recipe below. All you have to
do is multiply the boxed number in the column on the left using the equation in the middle, then write
your answer in ml in the righthand column. This formula is important to know, because there are 250
ml in a cup, and 50 teaspoons in 250 ml.
Cup

0.75 
1 
0.5 
0.25 

Mathematical conversion
ml
(¾) cup of butter
X
250
=
____ ml of butter
cup of brown sugar
X
250
=
____ ml of brown sugar
(½) cup of flour
X
250
=
____ ml of flour
50
X
250
(¼) teaspoon of salt
÷
=
_____ ml of salt
170 g (or 6 one-ounce squares) of semi-sweet chocolate
2 eggs
Let’s Get to Work!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease the cake pan with a bit of butter.
Melt the chocolate and butter together, then let cool to room temperature.
In the large mixing bowl, mix together brown sugar, salt, and eggs until smooth.
Add the chocolate mixture and blend well.
Add the flour, and mix until there are no lumps in the batter.
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6.
7.
If you don’t have a scale,
look at the quantity in
grams on the packaging of
a complete chocolate bar.
Most chocolate bars are
divided into squares.
Count the number of
squares in the package,
and divide the total grams
by the number of squares.
With this information, you
can calculate how many
squares you need to equal
170 g.
8.
9.
Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake in the oven for 20–
25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes
out with just a few crumbs. The batter be neither liquid nor
completely dry.
Let the brownies cool completely before turning the block out
of the pan.
Cut into 16 squares, by making four strips across the pan, then
turning it and cutting four more strips perpendicularly.
It is now time to taste your delicious results!
Most of the materials required for the experiments are common household items. You may need to
borrow some, and purchase others at the store.
 construction
 flour
 baking chocolate
 pen
 scissors
 eggs
 modelling clay
 coloured pencils
 ruler
 brown sugar
 glue stick
 cardboard (such
 tape
 butter
 long wooden
paper
stick, such as a
bamboo skewer
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as a cereal box)
Book
Internet Link
The Rabbit Problem
By Emily Gravett
Prime Radicals
The famous mathematical Fibonnacci numbers are
explained through an ever-expanding family of
rabbits. This hilarious book demonstrates the
problems that occur throughout the year, as this
brood keeps growing.
This companion website for the popular TVO
series Prime Radicals is full of games and
activities.
http://www.tvokids.com/games/primeradicals
(PAN Macmillan Children’s Book, 2009)
Game
Answers to the Tangram Challenge
Sudoku
Sudoku puzzles have become very popular in
the past few years. The most common version
has a grid of 9 smaller grids, each with 9 cells.
The same number can never repeat on a
horizontal or vertical line, or within one of the
smaller grids. Sudoku is available in
newspapers, books and online.
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Tangram Template
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