Algebra Four

What is Algebra Four?

This activity allows the user to practice solving algebraic equations.

This activity is similar to Connect Four, and is designed for two players. The goal is to have four pieces of the same color connected either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. One player uses red pieces, while the other player uses blue pieces. To earn a piece, you need to correctly solve an algebraic equation.

Solving an algebraic equation means finding the value of an unknown value in an equation that makes that equation true. For equations in the Algebra Four activity, you will be asked to find solutions to single variable equations.

There are many ways to solve algebraic equations. Frequently, solving algebraic equations entails "isolating the variable" using relationships of equality and properties of real numbers such as the distributive property, the associative property, the commutative property and both multiplicative inverses and additive inverses.

Quadratic equations are also found in the Algebra Four game. An equation is considered "quadratic" when the variable is squared, such as x ² =25. This type of equation often has two different answers that make the equation true, such as this one, x can be +5 or -5.

Related Resources

• Activity Algebra Quiz
• Activity Equation Solver
• Activity Function Machine
• Activity Graphit
• Activity Linear Function Machine
• Activity Two Variable Function Pump
• Discussion about Distributive Property
• Discussion about Identity Properties
• Discussion about One Step Algebra
• Discussion about Two Variable Functions
• Worksheet Algebra Four Exploration Questions
• Worksheet Algebra Four Exploration Questions (doc)

How Do I Use This Activity?

This activity allows the user to practice solving linear and quadratic algebraic equations.

In this applet, questions are categorized by a combination of level (which determines the difficulty) and by types of problems listed. For more information on how questions are generated and what each level and problem type means, see Question Types for Algebra Quiz and Algebra Four.

Controls and Output

• This activity is similar to Connect Four, and is designed for two players. The goal is to have four pieces of the same color connected either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. One player uses red pieces, while the other player uses black pieces.

• Before you start the game, you can set several options. You can choose how much time each player will have to answer the questions, you can choose the problem difficulty (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Whole Numbers Only) and you can select the types of algebra problems you want to see. Once you have all of the settings as you want them, click the Start Game button.

  

  *Note that the Whole Numbers Only questions are the same types of questions used in Level 1 but all numbers in the equation (as well the answer) will be positive integers. Most Level 1 solutions have integer answers, Level 2 problems tend to have integers in the problem but may have fractional solutions, and Level 3 tends to have fractions in the problem and in the solution.

• After clicking the Start Game button, a new screen appears. Towards the left of the screen is a table that lists the types of questions selected along with the difficulty level.
• To earn a piece you need to solve an algebraic equation, enter your answer into the answer textbox, and click the Answer button.
• Note that for fractions you must enter your answer with a '/' symbol in between the numerator and denominator: as #/#. For quadratics with two solutions, enter your answer with a comma in between the two solutions: #,#. For quadratics with a single solution, you must enter the number only once for your answer.
• The timer on the right-hand side of the board shows how much time you have left to answer. Once the timer turns all gray, the time is up. If you chose "No Time Limit," the timer will simply be gray, and it will not count down.
• If a player answers a question correctly, the player will be able to place one of their pieces on the board. To place a piece, simply click on the column that you want to drop the piece into. The piece will fall into the lowest available slot in the column. If a player answers incorrectly or if time runs out, the other player will have a chance to answer. If neither player is correct the answer appears in a pop-up window.
• If a player -- Player Red for instance -- answers incorrectly, the other player -- Player Black -- will be asked to answer the question. If Black also answers incorrectly, the answer will be displayed in a pop-up window and the game will continue with a new question for Black. Note that whether or not player Black answers correctly, it will be Black's turn again, because Black just attempted Red's question.
• If you want to restart the game or change options selected on the beginning screen, you can do so by clicking on the New Game button:
• The user may change the font size at any time during the game by selecting one of the three radio buttons located on the left side of the screen.

Scoring

• This activity will automatically record how successful you are at answering the questions. To view the score, press the Show Score button at the bottom of the activity and a pop-up window will appear with the scoreboard.
• To close this pop-up window press the Close button or click back on the main window.
• To pause the scoring, press the Active button at the bottom of the screen and it will change to a Paused button. To resume scoring, press the Paused button.
• To reset the scoreboard, open the scoreboard using the Show Score button and then press the Reset button.

Description

This activity allows the user to play a game with solving equations where each player tries to connect four game pieces in a row before his or her opponent does. The players can choose to solve linear equations involving various properties of equality as well as solve quadratic equations in standard form. They can also choose the difficulty level and the number of players. This activity would work well in groups of 2 for about 25-30 minutes if you use the exploration questions and 15-20 minutes otherwise.

Place in Mathematics Curriculum

This activity can be used to:

• Allow students practice with solving various types of one-variable equations.

Be Prepared to

• Explain the difference between solving a quadratic equation vs. solving a linear one
• Encourage students to try more difficult problems and decrease the allowed time
• Prevent any disputes and taunting between winners and losers

Related Resources

• Activity Algebra Quiz
• Activity Equation Solver
• Activity Function Machine
• Activity Graphit
• Activity Linear Function Machine
• Activity Two Variable Function Pump
• Discussion about Distributive Property
• Discussion about Identity Properties
• Discussion about One Step Algebra
• Discussion about Two Variable Functions
• Lesson on Introduction to Functions
• Lesson on More Complicated Functions: Introduction to Linear Functions
• Worksheet Algebra Four Exploration Questions
• Worksheet Algebra Four Exploration Questions (doc)