Unit 4

Unit 4 Introduction

 

Have you ever stopped to think about just how many different types of games there are in the world? There are games on gaming systems, computers, and handheld devices. Then there are the traditional pen-and-paper games, such as tic-tac-toe, and a huge variety of board games. Plus, each country or area of the world may have its own version of a particular game. There are literally thousands of different games available for your enjoyment.

 

Without numbers, many of your favourite games just wouldn’t be the same. Imagine trying to play a card game if you couldn’t recognize the suit or value of the card in your hand. Having a good understanding of rational numbers can be important to understanding how games work. A better understanding allows you to strategize your game play and build on your gaming skills.

 

 

In this unit you will investigate the following critical question:

• How can mathematical operations on rational numbers be used in a game setting?

The concepts and skills associated with rational numbers will be presented in four lessons.

 

 

Keep up to your assignments as you go through this unit. Keep your work organized, either electronically or in a paper version. This will help you review and reference the lessons you have learned. Reviewing may help you on tests or while you are working on the unit project. Be sure to talk to your teacher about when and how to submit your assignments.

 

In this unit there are a variety of assignments you will be asked to complete. Some of these include the following:

• posting to the discussion board
• adding samples of your work to your Math 9 course folder
• developing a formula sheet
• completing sets of questions for each lesson
• completing a unit project
• completing evaluation pieces assigned by your teacher

Strategies for Success

 

In order to support your success in this unit, follow these strategies.

 

Strategy 1

 

Throughout this course you will build a formula sheet using a spreadsheet program. The purpose of this project is to produce a formula sheet that you can use to quickly identify specific formulas and their uses. Your formula sheet will also provide a way for discussion, analysis, and review of these formulas with your peers.

 

• The specific instructions and requirements for the formula sheet are provided to you in the course introduction.

• Keep a lookout for the formula sheet icon in the lesson you are working on. This is an indication that you can add that formula to your spreadsheet. You should have saved your formula sheet to your Math 9 course folder. You can, however, find a blank Formula Sheet in the Toolkit.

Strategy 2

 

Make a foldable study tool according to the detailed instructions on page 44 of your MathLinks 9 textbook. Although this activity may not be graded for marks, you will benefit from this tool. Keep these points in mind as you develop and use this study tool.

• Add formulas, diagrams, examples, key ideas, and glossary words as you work through the lessons.

• The foldable can serve as a quick reference guide and will help you save time when you are ready to study for your unit test.

Strategy 3

 

In this unit you will be referring to pages 42 to 85 of your textbook.

• Take time to flip through these textbook pages.
• Look at illustrations, margin features, and main titles to get a sense of where you will be going.

Strategy 4

 

Read your lessons and textbook materials carefully.

• Pay special attention to tables and diagrams. They have information that will help you understand what you are reading.

• Read and reread material. Take time to ensure you understand what you are reading.

• Ask yourself: What is new material to me? What do I already know?

• Move ahead with confidence.

Unit 4 Project

 

For the Unit 4 Project you will be designing a game that involves operations with rational numbers. In Lessons 1 through 4 you will be completing the “Math Links” activities on pages 54, 62, 71, and 81 of your textbook. The first three “Math Link” games require you to work with a partner or in a small group. The purpose of these games is to do the following:

• reinforce and expand your math skills
• generate ideas for the game you will create at the end of the unit

At the completion of the unit you will complete “Math Link: Wrap It Up!” on page 85 of the textbook. Here you will use what you have learned to design a game that involves rational numbers. For specific requirements, please refer to page 85 in the textbook.

 

 

As you progress through each lesson, think about how the information presented can be incorporated into your project plan. Completing the chart Game Reviewer after you have played each game will help you in your final project task. Keep track of your thoughts and your chart entries in your portfolio. This will keep your work organized and available for when it is needed.

 

Save Game Reviewer in your portfolio. You might choose to customize the chart to suit your needs. For instance, you might want to customize the Game Reviewer chart to have people review the game you create for your final task project. This is a great way to clearly identify any concerns that may arise as people test your game. It also helps to showcase what people liked about your game.

 

As you complete the Unit 4 Project, you may want to refer to the Unit 4 Project Self-Assessment Rubric.

 

The better you understand what the characteristics of quality work are for the project, the easier it will be for you to create high-quality work. Remember, you can always discuss your project with your teacher if you have questions or if you are unclear about a piece of the project.

 

Are you ready to start learning about numbers in games? It all starts in Lesson 1 with investigating the magnitude of numbers!