Activity
Making sense of patterns with algebraic thinking
Discover how students using JAWS screen reader are making sense of patterns through algebraic thinking with the Number Game activities!
Number Game
Objectives
- You will learn to make sense of patterns that appear in numbers.
- You will learn to use JAWS and Word.
- You will learn to understand number patterns using algebraic thinking.
Required digital tools
- JAWS screenreader installed in Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Note: For an accessible version of the math equations, download the Word version “Making sense of patterns with algebraic thinking” post.
Number Game
This is a number game that you can play with your friends and family! Follow the steps (a) through (f).
- Think of a number
- Add 3
- Double
- Add 4
- Halve
- Take away the number you started with
Example:
Think of a number: 4
Add 3: 4 + 3 = 7
Double the answer: 7 * 2 = 14
Add 4: 14 + 4 = 18
Halve the answer: 18 ÷ 2 = 9
Take away the number you started with: 9 – 4 = 5
Now try the above with three different numbers. What is the pattern you are seeing in all three examples?
Demystifying using the language of algebra
What is algebra? It is a branch of mathematics that uses variables, numbers, and arithmetic operations to solve problems. Let us use the language of Algebra to understand what is happening in this number game.
The number you think of can be anything – so let’s call it a variable “x”. Let us follow the number game step by step with this variable “x”. Watch the video to use a Word document with JAWS to write equations. Note there are two ways you can write equations in Word using JAWS. The first video demonstrates how you can use the QWERTY keyboard to access the built-in Math editor in Word and the second video demonstrates how you can use the braille display with JAWS to access the braille math editor.
Think of a number: x
Add 3: x+3
Double the answer: 2x (x+3) = 2x + 6
Add 4: 2x + 6 + 4 = 2x + 10
Halve the answer: (2x + 10) ÷ 2 = 2x ÷ 2 + 10 ÷ 2 = x + 5
Take away the number you started with: x + 5 – x = 5
Do you see what is happening here? Does this match your observation with different numbers? Do the calculations using the language of Algebra help you understand why your answer is the same, no matter what number you think of?
Video 1: Writing Equations with Word and JAWS: This video demonstrates the Number Game using the variable “x” in Word with the built-in math editor and JAWS.
- Video transcript: Writing Equations with Word with JAWS
- JAWS keyboard Commands – Word Built-in Math Editor document
Video 2: Writing Equations with Braille Math Editor and JAWS: This video demonstrates the Number Game using the variable “x” in Word with the JAWS Braille Math Editor.
Video 2: Braille Math editor using braille display and JAWS
Reflection of concept
Here, the overall concept is to understand number patterns using algebraic reasoning.
As we can see with the variable “x”, no matter what “x” is, following the steps in the number game, you will always end with the answer 5! Do you think you can now design similar puzzles? The key is to create steps that can help get rid of your mystery number.
Extra practice
- Try the above number game with fractions and decimals, Is your answer still the same?
- Here is a partially designed game: Think of a number. Multiply by 3. Add 6. What steps can I add to this number game to remove the mystery number and be left with the same answer each time.
This post was created as part of the TEAM Initiative to support Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVIs) in teaching foundational technology skills—such as using Excel, equation editors and other digital tools—through math lessons and video tutorials designed to help students access and succeed in digital math along side their peers.
Written by TSVI Anitha Muthukumaran and content expert, Kanchana Suryakumar. If you would like more information about the TEAM Initiative, contact Leslie Thatcher at [email protected].
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