1. Algebraic function machine game
A3.1 Core Plenary
A game for two.
The first player chooses a function machine having one or two or three function boxes.
The second player has to work out the operations in the function box(es) by asking the first player what the outputs will be for some algebraic inputs they choose.
The idea is to find the function boxes with as few trial inputs as possible.
Preamble
This is a game for two players and is the algebraic counterpart of the starter game. The first player chooses a function machine having one, two or three function boxes. The second player has to work out which operations are in the function box(es) by asking the first player the outputs for some algebraic inputs which they choose. The idea is to find the function boxes with as few trial inputs as possible. Wrong answers could be penalised by a ‘penalty trial’ added to the total of trials. Players change roles after each game – the one with the lowest number of trials for the two games wins a point for that round and so on.
A short whole-class discussion about strategies might be useful at the end of the games. In some cases the games could be played against the whole class with one person (perhaps the teacher) acting as the function machine ‘constructor’.
Possible content
Using function machines with algebraic inputs.
Resources
None.
Solution/Notes
Original Material © Cambridge University Press 2009
Original Material © Cambridge University Press 2009