A Dicey Situation

Jamie made up a new dice game. Two players each roll an ordinary six-sided die. Of the two numbers showing, the smaller is subtracted from the larger.

Scoring:

  • If the difference is 0, 1, or 2, player A gets 1 point.
  • If the difference is 3, 4, or 5, player B gets 1 point.

The game ends after 12 rounds. The player with the most points wins the game.

If you were given the choice of being Player A or Player B, which would you pick, assuming you want to win?

Remember to explain all the steps you use in making your decision.

 

Extension: Describe another way of scoring that is fair for this game of differences. Explain how you know it is fair.
[A mathematician considers a game to be fair if all players have an equal chance of winning.]

*For Grades 3-5

From NCTM

Hidden Primes

Barry wrote 6 different numbers, one of each side of the three cards, and laid the cards on a table, as shown. The sums of the two sides of each card are equal. The three numbers on the hidden sides are prime numbers. What are the hidden three numbers? Extension: What is the average of those three numbers?

for Grades 5-8

Tried this with your class? Tweet it out and tag us with your learning moments! @NicolewMath

*From Mathematical Association of America