Grades

• 6-8
• 9-12

Brief Description

Game cards help pair up students to solve linear equations for the value of a variable.

Objectives

Keywords

equation, linear equation, variable, algebra

Materials Needed

• a set of cards with equations written on them (see Before the Lesson below)
• notebooks/paper
• chalk and blackboard, or markers and whiteboard

The Lesson

Before the Lesson
This game is planned for use with 30 students; however, more cards can be made for play in a larger-sized class. Students might help you to prepare the 30 game cards, or the cards might be prepared in advance. Each card should have a letter of the alphabet (in this case, A to O) written on it along with a linear expression; there will be two different cards with the same letter and different linear expressions. For example, see the list below. For the letter A there are two cards:

Card	Expression On Card 1	Expression On Card 2	Answer
A	4x + 2 - 8x	3x	x = 2/7
B	6 x - 7	0	x = 7/6
C	7 – 10z	17	z = -1
D	6x + 16	2x - 12	x = -7
E	6 - 5x	13x	x = 1/3
F	14y +7	-6	y = -13/14
G	8x – 4	-6	x = -1/4
H	7 - 5x	-10	x = 17/5
I	6x - 17	9x	x = -17/3
J	10x + 7	17	x = 1
K	20x + 10	4 - 10	x = -4/5
L	15p - 5	10p + 10	p = -3
M	11x + 33	55	x = 2
N	(6x -5)/2	(3x +6)/2	x = 11/3
O	5x – 3x + 7	-7 + 8x	x = 7/3

If you have a class of 30 students, shuffle the set of 30 cards and distribute a card to each student. (If you have fewer or more students, shuffle a set of letter cards for each pair of students.) Allow students who get the same alphabet cards to sit together and solve the equation for the value of the variable. For example, the pair of students who got the two cards with the letter A on them will solve for x in the linear equation

4x + 2 - 8x = 3x

Once students have solved their equations, you might place lettered slips (in this game’s example, one slip with each letter A to O) in a bowl or hat. Draw out a slip and read the letter that is written on it. Invite the pair of students who have that letter on their cards to come up to the board to show how they solved their equation. If they do it correctly they win that round of the game.

Assessment

Let all student pairs who correctly solved their equations play another round of the game (with new cards or the same ones). With each repeat of the game, you will eliminate more pairs of students. Play until you have a final winner (a pair of champions).

Thus, the game can be used to motivate and provide drill in solving linear equations in one variable.

Below you will find the step-by-step solution to each of the equations.

Card A
4x + 2 - 8x = 3x
4x - 8x - 3x = -2
-7x = -2
x = 2/7

Card B
6x – 7 = 0
6x = 7
x = 7/6

Card C
7 - 10z = 17
-10z = 17 – 7
-10z = 10
z = 10/-10 = -1

Card D
6x + 16 = 2x – 12
6x – 2x = -12 – 16
4x = -28
x = -28 /4 = -7

Card E
6 - 5x = 13x
-5x - 13x = -6
-18x = -6
x = -6/-18
x = 1/3

Card F
14y + 7 = -6
14y = -6 – 7
14y = -13
y = -13/14

Card G
8x – 4 = -6
8x = -6 + 4
8x = -2
x = -2/8 = -1/4

Card H
7 - 5x = -10
-5x = -10 – 7
-5x = -17
x = 17/5

Card I
6x – 17 = 9x
6x - 9x = 17
-3x = 17
x = -17/3

Card J
10x + 7 = 17
10x = 17 – 7
10x = 10
x = 10/10 = 1

Card K
20x + 10 = 4 – 10
20x = 4 – 10 – 10
20x = -16
x = -16/20 = -4/5

Card L
15p – 5 = 10p + 10
15p – 10p = 10 + 5
-5p = 15
p = 15/-5 = -3

Card M
11x + 33 = 55
11x = 55 – 33
11x = 22
x = 22/11 = 2

Card N
(6x-5)/2 = (3x+6)/2
[The numerators are equal as the fractions are equal and the denominators are same.]
6x – 5 =3x + 6
6x - 3x = 6 + 5
3x = 11
x = 11/3

Card O
5x -3x + 7 = -7 + 8x
5x - 3x - 8x = -7 – 7
-6x = -14
x = -14/-6 = 7/3

Submitted By

Education World®
Copyright © 2007 Education World

05/02/2007