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Number Sense
Activity 2: Dice Digits
7
© 1998 T
EXAS
I
NSTRUMENTS
I
NCORPORATED
Activity
—
Part B
Individual or Small Group
1. Have each student or pair of students roll dice on the
TI-73 to get 4 numbers.
2. Instruct students to use all 4 numbers, any operations,
and grouping symbols to write an expression for each
of the numbers 1 through 9.
3. Have students check their work on the TI-73 and
record each expression on the student activity sheet
provided.
Wrap-up
♦ Students can exchange papers and check one
another’s work.
♦ Ask students: Will it always be possible to write
expressions for each counting number using the 4
numbers? (no)
♦ Share examples of what students believe to be
impossible.
Assessment Suggestions
♦ Ask students to write a journal entry summarizing the
rules for order of operations. (Refer to “Equation
Operating System (EOSé)” in Appendix B of the TI-73
Guidebook .)
♦ Ask students to think of an example of 4 numbers that
would make this activity difficult or impossible to
complete and explain why.
Extensions
♦ Find the probability of getting an “unlucky” roll such
as four 1s.
♦ Depending on the level of the students, extend the
activity to include exponents, roots, factorials, etc.
♦ As a class, use the 4 digits of the current year to
develop expressions that equal the numbers 1 through
100. Display students’ work on a bulletin board.