Number Sense

Activity 2: Dice Digits

7

Activity—Part B

Individual or Small Group

1.Have each student or pair of students roll dice on the TI-73 to get 4 numbers.

2.Instruct students to use all 4 numbers, any operations, and grouping symbols to write an expression for each of the numbers 1 through 9.

3.Have students check their work on the TI-73 and record each expression on the student activity sheet provided.

Wrap-up

♦Students can exchange papers and check one another’s work.

♦Ask students: Will it always be possible to write expressions for each counting number using the 4 numbers? (no)

♦Share examples of what students believe to be impossible.

Assessment Suggestions

♦Ask students to write a journal entry summarizing the rules for order of operations. (Refer to “Equation Operating System (EOSé)” in Appendix B of the TI-73 Guidebook ￿.)

♦Ask students to think of an example of 4 numbers that would make this activity difficult or impossible to complete and explain why.

Extensions

♦Find the probability of getting an “unlucky” roll such as four 1s.

♦Depending on the level of the students, extend the activity to include exponents, roots, factorials, etc.

♦As a class, use the 4 digits of the current year to develop expressions that equal the numbers 1 through 100. Display students’ work on a bulletin board.

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