youcubed: The Four 4’s

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youcubed: The Four 4’s
Jo has used this task with a lot of success on the first days of school with very hesitant students.Soon after setting the challenge the board area becomes full of students putting up their solutions, then returning to their seat to look for more. For students, it is a very safe and non threatening activity. It builds number sense and is a fun challenge. This task is also a really nice way of helping students become comfortable sharing their work in front of the class.

Task Instructions

Can you find every number between 1 and 20 using only four 4’s and any operation?

or

Can we as a class find every number between 1 and 20 using only four 4’s and any operation?

Here’s an example √4 + √4 + 4⁄4 =

Give this challenge to students and write all the numbers from 1 to 20 on the board. Then ask students to come to the board and write a solution any time they have one. The more solutions you get for each number the better.

youcubed (Stanford University)
Math Topics
Addition & Subtraction, Multiplication & Division, Number Values & Counting, Problem-Solving
K-6, Middle School, High School
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
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youcubed: The Four 4’s
Jo has used this task with a lot of success on the first days of school with very hesitant students.Soon after setting the challenge the board area becomes full of students putting up their solutions, then returning to their seat to look for more. For students, it is a very safe and non threatening activity. It builds number sense and is a fun challenge. This task is also a really nice way of helping students become comfortable sharing their work in front of the class.

Task Instructions

Can you find every number between 1 and 20 using only four 4’s and any operation?

or

Can we as a class find every number between 1 and 20 using only four 4’s and any operation?

Here’s an example √4 + √4 + 4⁄4 =

Give this challenge to students and write all the numbers from 1 to 20 on the board. Then ask students to come to the board and write a solution any time they have one. The more solutions you get for each number the better.

youcubed (Stanford University)
Math Topics
Addition & Subtraction, Multiplication & Division, Number Values & Counting, Problem-Solving
K-6, Middle School, High School
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade

What are you looking for?

Organization

youcubed (Stanford University)

Website URL

Type of Resource

Challenge

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