Toothpicks

TOOTHPICK TEASERS

Lateral thinking is a problem-solving technique that teaches how to shake off preconceived notions and approach a problem from new directions. This skill can help you succeed in every aspect of life. These puzzles will not necessarily teach you anything but illustrate how to look at things differently. You have no choice but to spark ingenuity and creativity in order to solve these problems. Be a good thinker!

Can you find the solutions to these toothpick teasers?

 

Try these experiments after watching: The Spangler Effect!

Henry “Spangler” the 2nd from Mrs. Wagner’s class reenacted one of the experiments above.  Watch the video below.  Can you do it too?

Simple Math Equations…

Get the app  –  Matchmatics Lite – The Matchstick Math Puzzle Game by Mideast Apps

Dan Meyer really gets us thinking with his experiment:

HOMEWORK : How many levels/rows will he make with all those toothpicks?

If you want the extra challenge, answer the following questions too.

1. Matthew: What’s the perimeter of the final triangle?
2. Scott: How many small (3 toothpick) triangles can be made?
3. Jeff: How many “total” small triangles will be created?
4. Mrs. McBride:If we used another 250 toothpicks, how many levels would that make?
5. Einstein: Write a function t(l) that takes the number of levels (l) and returns the total number of toothpicks (t) in that pyramid.

NIM GAMES

Nim games are said to have originated in ancient China. There are a variety of Nim games, and their common feature is a finite set of objects from which players choose to take small quantities. The games are simple, and while it is possible to win by chance, to win consistently requires logic and mathematical analysis. Exploring the many variations of the game and the strategies for winning presents opportunities to explore several fields of math from and inductive approach.

Try this online version:

Another Strategy Games: Tic-Tac-Toe

Art with toothpicks…