GB2193899A

GB2193899A - Mathematics Sign Precedent Game

Info

Publication number: GB2193899A
Application number: GB08619896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rushworth Oliver Char Campbell; James Albert Alexande Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-08-15
Filing date: 1986-08-15
Publication date: 1988-02-24
Also published as: GB8619896D0

Abstract

A Mathematics Sign Precedent Game consists of a die carrying the symbols +, -, x, DIVIDED and two blank spaces and a deck of cards each carrying a symbol selected from a number, +, -, x, DIVIDED , decimal point, bracket; or a blank card. The rules specify the interaction of the die and cards in the production of equations illustrating sign precedence.

Description

SPECIFICATION Mathematics sign precedent game This invention is a MATHEMATICS SIGN PRE CEDENT GAME which uses a *non-standard* deck of cards and a *non-standard* die-Figs.

1, 2, 3 & 4 are citations.

The purpose of the game is to provide a medium for the evaluation and formulation of countless expressions of the form a+b-:c-dxe. cdxe. .to enable the player to gain practice and confidence in applying the sign precedent rule of mathematics and also to provide challenge and entertainment for those to whom the rule is well known.

Today, there are many people and in particular school children who are unsure of how to evaluate an expression such as 21+6T'3-3X4 for example. Quite a number of them will start by adding 21 to 6 to produce 27 then divide 27 by 3 to produce 9 then subtract 3 to produce 6 and finally multiplying 6 by 4 to produce 24 which, as most of us know, is incorrect. The sign precedent rule of mathematics states that division (-:) and multiplication (x) have higher priority or precedent than addition and subtraction and should therefore be performed first and in the order in which they appear-the expression being scanned from left to right.Thus in the above expression 6 should first be divided by 3 to produce 2 then 3 should be multiplied by 4 to produce 12 the expression would then be reduced to 21+2-12 which would yield the correct answer of 11.

This game may be played by one person or with others but herein the game will be explained for two players.

Firstly, each player is dealt seven cards from the SPECIAL DECK. The remainder of the deck is then placed face down in the centre of the playing area. Secondly, the top card from the deck is turned over and placed next to the deck. If this exposed card is anything other than a number it should be returned to the deck; the deck should then be thoroughly shuffled before the new top card is exposed-this procedure should continue until a number, including zero is exposed.

If we assume that the number 17 has been exposed the first player should then roll the SPECIAL DlE.-Fig. 1-and use the sign obtained thereon together with any or all of the cards in his hands to formulate an expression conforming to the precedent sign rule mentioned above, to yield 17. If player 'A' had cards 3, 5, +, 28, 21, 2 & x in his hand, and he obtained a . sign on the SPECIAL DIE one formulation could be 28T'2+3 which may also be presented as 3+28-2. These cards would be placed on top of the number 17 card face-up. If the first presentation is used, it would mean that the top card-forming a second and exposed deck-would be the number 3 card.Player 'A' would then roll the SPECIAL DIE again and with the sign obtained attempt to formulate an expression using the sign on the die and his remaining cards, i.e he would attempt to make the number 3 from 5, 21 & x along with +, say, obtained on the die. If player 'A' fails to make 3 he should take the top card from the unexposed deck, and player 'B' should attempt to formulate an expression for 3 from the cards in his hand and the sign he obtains on rolling the SPE CIAL DIE. If he fails to do this he should take the top card from the unexposed deck and return play to 'A' who should now attempt to formulate an expression for 3 with the cards he now has in his hand and the sign he obtains on rolling the die.If he fails to formulate an expression he takes the top card from the unexposed deck and return play to 'B'-and so the game continues-a player taking a card from the top of the unexposed deck if he fails to formulate an expression for the exposed number or use the sign he obtains on the die. The winner is the first player to dispose of all his cards.

If the unexposed deck is reduced to zero before there is a winner, the top card of the exposed deck is left exposed and the remainder of this deck is placed face-down, unshuffled, to form the new unexposed or penalty deck.

Two or more cards may not be combined to form large numbers, for example, 17 and 3 cannot be combined to form 173 or 317.

Likewise two or more cards may not be combined to form a decimal number, for example, 17 and 3 cannot be combined to form 17.3 or 1.73 or .173. The decimal point may only be placed in front of or between numbers, for example, 17 can become 1.7 or .17.

This combination of SPECIAL DECK and SPECIAL DIE will provide innumerable opportunity for players to formulate expressions and become acquainted with the precedent rule or provide challenge for those already acquainted with same.

1. A Mathematics Sign Precedent Game consists of a SPECIAL DIE as shown in Fig. 1 and a SPECIAL DECK of cards as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The Die will contain signs +, -, x & . along with two blank faces which may be used as any of the four signs by the players.

2. A Mathematics Sign Precedent Game claimed in Claim 1 has a deck containing any quantity and combination of: addition signs (+); subtraction signs (-); multiplication signs (x); division signs (-:) and decimal points, along with any combination of numbers in the range of -x to + zc (minus infinity to plus infinity) in any quantity; brackets of any description in any quantity and combination.

3. A Mathematics Sign Precedent Game

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Mathematics sign precedent game This invention is a MATHEMATICS SIGN PRE CEDENT GAME which uses a *non-standard* deck of cards and a *non-standard* die-Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4 are citations. The purpose of the game is to provide a medium for the evaluation and formulation of countless expressions of the form a+b-:c-dxe. cdxe. .to enable the player to gain practice and confidence in applying the sign precedent rule of mathematics and also to provide challenge and entertainment for those to whom the rule is well known. Today, there are many people and in particular school children who are unsure of how to evaluate an expression such as 21+6T'3-3X4 for example. Quite a number of them will start by adding 21 to 6 to produce 27 then divide 27 by 3 to produce 9 then subtract 3 to produce 6 and finally multiplying 6 by 4 to produce 24 which, as most of us know, is incorrect. The sign precedent rule of mathematics states that division (-:) and multiplication (x) have higher priority or precedent than addition and subtraction and should therefore be performed first and in the order in which they appear-the expression being scanned from left to right.Thus in the above expression 6 should first be divided by 3 to produce 2 then 3 should be multiplied by 4 to produce 12 the expression would then be reduced to 21+2-12 which would yield the correct answer of 11. This game may be played by one person or with others but herein the game will be explained for two players. Firstly, each player is dealt seven cards from the SPECIAL DECK. The remainder of the deck is then placed face down in the centre of the playing area. Secondly, the top card from the deck is turned over and placed next to the deck. If this exposed card is anything other than a number it should be returned to the deck; the deck should then be thoroughly shuffled before the new top card is exposed-this procedure should continue until a number, including zero is exposed. If we assume that the number 17 has been exposed the first player should then roll the SPECIAL DlE.-Fig. 1-and use the sign obtained thereon together with any or all of the cards in his hands to formulate an expression conforming to the precedent sign rule mentioned above, to yield 17. If player 'A' had cards 3, 5, +, 28, 21, 2 & x in his hand, and he obtained a . sign on the SPECIAL DIE one formulation could be 28T'2+3 which may also be presented as 3+28-2. These cards would be placed on top of the number 17 card face-up. If the first presentation is used, it would mean that the top card-forming a second and exposed deck-would be the number 3 card.Player 'A' would then roll the SPECIAL DIE again and with the sign obtained attempt to formulate an expression using the sign on the die and his remaining cards, i.e he would attempt to make the number 3 from 5, 21 & x along with +, say, obtained on the die. If player 'A' fails to make 3 he should take the top card from the unexposed deck, and player 'B' should attempt to formulate an expression for 3 from the cards in his hand and the sign he obtains on rolling the SPE CIAL DIE. If he fails to do this he should take the top card from the unexposed deck and return play to 'A' who should now attempt to formulate an expression for 3 with the cards he now has in his hand and the sign he obtains on rolling the die.If he fails to formulate an expression he takes the top card from the unexposed deck and return play to 'B'-and so the game continues-a player taking a card from the top of the unexposed deck if he fails to formulate an expression for the exposed number or use the sign he obtains on the die. The winner is the first player to dispose of all his cards. If the unexposed deck is reduced to zero before there is a winner, the top card of the exposed deck is left exposed and the remainder of this deck is placed face-down, unshuffled, to form the new unexposed or penalty deck. Two or more cards may not be combined to form large numbers, for example, 17 and 3 cannot be combined to form 173 or 317. Likewise two or more cards may not be combined to form a decimal number, for example, 17 and 3 cannot be combined to form 17.3 or 1.73 or .173. The decimal point may only be placed in front of or between numbers, for example, 17 can become 1.7 or .17. This combination of SPECIAL DECK and SPECIAL DIE will provide innumerable opportunity for players to formulate expressions and become acquainted with the precedent rule or provide challenge for those already acquainted with same. CLAIMS

3. A Mathematics Sign Precedent Game claimed in Claim 1 or 2 will also contain blank cards within the deck in any quantity which may be used as any character present in the finite deck and any number in the range of --oo to +co (minus infinity to plus infinity).

4. A Mathematics Sign Precedent Game claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3 refers to decks of: cardboard, plastic or wooden blocks and the like-the deck is not restricted in size, shape or form and the characters on the deck may or may not be spelt out.