08/05/2020

Mathematics in games: five tips for having fun

Who hasn't spent hours trying to decipher the "code" of a Rubik's Cube? Or imagined perfect angles to get that ball into the pocket? Mathematics is present in various games that involve strategy, reasoning, geometric concepts, and calculations. Many times you're learning math without even realizing it. Guaranteed fun during leisure time, mathematical games can also be an ally during this quarantine. So, we've selected five options for you to enjoy. Check them out!

1- Billiards

Foto: Freepik

A game of pool can be a great lesson in plane geometry for the observant. During the game, each time a ball hits a cushion, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. And whoever knows this has a huge advantage. Trajectory issues for pocketing more than one ball at once are also fundamental. By observing the internal and external angle bisectors of triangles, it becomes easier to calculate the angle for the ideal shot. You may not have a pool table at home, but that won't be a big problem. There are several websites and apps where you can participate in online rounds for free.

2- Dominoes

Foto: Freepik

A basic rule is the guiding thread of the game: the successive connection of pieces by the parts with matching indications. During early childhood education, dominoes can be adapted to versions that combine figures, colors, or have indirect correspondences, such as a drawing of an animal and its footprint, for example. For elementary school students, the pieces can be created based on the concepts of exponentiation, fractions, and multiples. Replacing numbers with mathematical equations can also practice math. In addition to the traditional model, which uses numbers from 0 to 6 on each side of the pieces, it is possible to make your own dominoes from sheets of paper, cardboard, or even print themed models that can be easily found on the Internet. Use your creativity!

3- Magic Cube

Foto: EBC

The toy dates back to the 1970s, but it still attracts a legion of fans. Few people know, but the instrument was initially created to teach algebra through the mathematical solution of a problem – a cube with each face composed of nine squares of six colors, divided into three rows and three columns, which needed to have all faces the same shade. Its continued success is partly due to the tutorials available on YouTube . The video instructions provide that extra help to avoid giving up on the task, even when it seems impossible to even out one side of the cube without destroying the other. The Rubik's Cube can be found for sale in online stores and also has a digital version, found on websites and apps.

4- Tangram

Foto: The Guardian

Two large triangles, two small ones, one medium one, a square, and a parallelogram can give rise to more than 5,000 figures. It is believed that the tangram was invented in China and brought to Europe in the early 19th century, where it became popular. The activity can be a great pastime to occupy children and introduce them to geometry. To create a tangram, draw a square in a 4×4 ratio. Draw a diagonal from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. Draw another diagonal parallel to the first, going from the upper half to the right half of the square. From the upper end of the shorter diagonal, connect it to the longer diagonal with a line perpendicular to them. Draw a diagonal from the midpoint of the diagonal made in step 3 to the lower left corner of the square. From the same origin as the previous step, draw a vertical line downwards to the longer diagonal. Once all the pieces are outlined, a suggestion is to color each one.

5- Sudoku

Foto: Reprodução Youtube

At some point in your life, you've probably occupied yourself with the nine rows and nine columns of this game to pass the time and exercise your mind. Sudoku was created in Japan and gained popularity when it began to be published in specialized magazines. The goal is to complete all 81 cells, using numbers from 1 to 9, without repeating numbers in the same row, column, or grid. There are several strategies that can be adopted, such as checking the most frequent numbers and their positions. When observing rows, columns, and grids that are almost complete, try to fill them in to guide you in the rest of the challenge. Draw imaginary lines in 3×3 grids to try to eliminate all positions where a certain number cannot be repeated. In online versions of Sudoku, you can adjust the difficulty level you would like to face: very easy, easy, medium, and the most difficult.