Boxed In

A game of strategy for two players

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THINKING
Pointer

Get Ready

First player's name:

Second player's name:

In this game you take it in turns to draw a line between two dots. You can do this by clicking on the space between the dots.

The objective is to complete a 'box'. The player to put the last side on a square scores one point. On completing a box, the player can then select another line.

The player with the largest score is the winner.

The computer does not play the perfect strategy so you do stand a good chance of winning!

Boxed In

In this game you take it in turns to draw a line between two dots. You can do this by clicking on the space between the dots.

The objective is to complete a 'box'. The player to put the last side on a square scores one point. On completing a box, the player can then select another line.

The player with the largest score is the winner.

The computer does not play the perfect strategy so you do stand a good chance of winning!

Suggested

Boxed In Numbers

Boxed In Numbers

The classic dots and boxes game with the addition of some positive and negative numbers which determine your score.

The short web address is:

Transum.org/go/?to=binums

Suggested

Boxed In Fractions

Boxed In Fractions

The classic dots and boxes two-player game with the addition of some fractions which determine your score.

The short web address is:

Transum.org/go/?to=biffactions

Suggested

Strategy Games

Strategy Games

Strategy games that require some mental arithmetic, creativity or logic.

The short web address is:

Transum.org/go/?to=strategy


Transum.org

This web site contains over a thousand free mathematical activities for teachers and pupils. Click here to go to the main page which links to all of the resources available.

Please contact me if you have any suggestions or questions.

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Mathematicians are not the people who find Maths easy; they are the people who enjoy how mystifying, puzzling and hard it is. Are you a mathematician?

Comment recorded on the 12 July 'Starter of the Day' page by Miss J Key, Farlingaye High School, Suffolk:

"Thanks very much for this one. We developed it into a whole lesson and I borrowed some hats from the drama department to add to the fun!"

Comment recorded on the 1 February 'Starter of the Day' page by Terry Shaw, Beaulieu Convent School:

"Really good site. Lots of good ideas for starters. Use it most of the time in KS3."

Each month a newsletter is published containing details of the new additions to the Transum website and a new puzzle of the month.

The newsletter is then duplicated as a podcast which is available on the major delivery networks. You can listen to the podcast while you are commuting, exercising or relaxing.

Transum breaking news is available on Twitter @Transum and if that's not enough there is also a Transum Facebook page.

Featured Activity

Bidmaze

Bidmaze

Find your way through the maze encountering mathematical operations in the correct order to achieve the given total. This is an addictive challenge that begins easy but develops into quite a difficult puzzle.

Numeracy

"Numeracy is a proficiency which is developed mainly in Mathematics but also in other subjects. It is more than an ability to do basic arithmetic. It involves developing confidence and competence with numbers and measures. It requires understanding of the number system, a repertoire of mathematical techniques, and an inclination and ability to solve quantitative or spatial problems in a range of contexts. Numeracy also demands understanding of the ways in which data are gathered by counting and measuring, and presented in graphs, diagrams, charts and tables."

Secondary National Strategy, Mathematics at key stage 3

Go Maths

Learning and understanding Mathematics, at every level, requires learner engagement. Mathematics is not a spectator sport. Sometimes traditional teaching fails to actively involve students. One way to address the problem is through the use of interactive activities and this web site provides many of those. The Go Maths main page links to more activities designed for students in upper Secondary/High school.

Teachers

If you found this activity useful don't forget to record it in your scheme of work or learning management system. The short URL, ready to be copied and pasted, is as follows:

Alternatively, if you use Google Classroom, all you have to do is click on the green icon below in order to add this activity to one of your classes.

It may be worth remembering that if Transum.org should go offline for whatever reason, there are mirror site at Transum.info that contains most of the resources that are available here on Transum.org.

When planning to use technology in your lesson always have a plan B!

Ben Orlin, Maths Games With Bad Drawings

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

"The basic dots and boxes game was first published by the mathematician Édouard Lucas, in 1889, under the title La Pipopipette. Édouard credited its invention to several of his former students at Paris’s prestigious École Polytechnique."

Do you have any comments? It is always useful to receive feedback and helps make this free resource even more useful for those learning Mathematics anywhere in the world. Click here to enter your comments.

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