November 2004

Contents




Goal

The goal of MathCards is for students to build math equations or decode facts while reinforcing math skills. Try to get a higher score over your opponent. Play seven modes of MathCards:

1. Starting Fact Factory
 2. Cross Facts in progress
3. Fact Factory game in progress with whole numbers
 4. Fact Factory game with fractions
5. Fact Factory game with exponents, roots and romans     
 6. Triple Cross Facts with roots and large whole numbers



Quick Start

Here's a quick step-by-step lesson on how to play Fact Factory: Here's a quick step-by-step lesson on how to one of the Facts games:

Triple-Cross-Facts let you make facts in any of 8 lines.
Here the next move is to drag the 6 to the bottom to make a fact from 7, 6 and 13.

Winning fact is 7+6=13, for a total of 26 points.



Game Rules

Fact Factory Rules: In Fact Factory students build equations from cards in their hand. Two drop zones for building equations are available, one for 2 facts and the other for 3 facts. Two answers are shown and two or three cards must be used to match a fact.

Facts Rules: In the three Fact games, cards must be lined up in rows to form "pseudo" equations. Three cards are used in a straight line and scored based on whether they can make a fact. For example 3,12,4 would be used to make the fact 3×4=12. The student alternates with an opponent to drop cards in the "facts zone". The facts zone is 3, 5 or 9 empty slots or existing cards in the slots.

Sequence Rules: Sequence makes the student line up the cards in numeric order. This is most effective for integers or when numbers are presented in various formats, such as fractions mixed with decimals or wholes with roman numerals.

Challenge Rules: Challenge presents the students with challenges to present correct cards to questions asked.

Challenge mode presents you with a different format selection menu. See Challenge Menu below.

Practice Rules: The computer will generate equations whose answers are missing.




Cards

You can pick from various card backs and fronts. You can even design your own cards.


Tips


PASS: Passing your turn will cost you points.
BONUS: Bonus points are given for quickly-entered correct answers.


Menu Commands

The menu commands are graphically represented at the bottom of the screen. Each has a "hover hint".




Number Menu

The Number Menu allows you to pick the set of numbers to be used and how they will be displayed.

  • Whole Numbers: select and set the range of whole numbers you need.
  • Integers: select and set the range of integers
  • Decimals: select and set the type of decimals
  • Fractions: select and set the kind of fractions
  • Dollars: select difficulty of dollars & cents
  • Equations: select difficulty of equations on cards.

  • Romans Only: display wholes as roman numerals
  • Some Romans: randomly display some wholes as romans
  • Low Romans: randomly display 1-10 as romans
  • Improper: display as improper fractions
  • Percentages: display some decimals as percentages
  • Roots: display some wholes roots
  • Exponents: display some wholes as exponents
  • Equations: display some numbers as simple equations.



    • Challenge Menu

    When you select the Challenge mode, the following menu provide choices on how to display numbers. The challenge is to match equivalent numbers using varios display formats.
    Note: select number ranges from the Numbers menu first.

  • Whole Numbers: whole numbers will be used
  • Integers: integers will be used
  • Fractions: select and set the kind of fractions

  • Simple Equations: equivalent numbers will be displayed as simple equations, eg: 3+4
  • Roman Numerals: equivalent numbers will be displayed as roman numerals
  • Some Romans: randomly display some wholes as romans
  • Low Romans: randomly display 1-10 as romans
  • Improper: display as improper fractions
  • Percentages: display some decimals as percentages
  • Roots: display some wholes roots
  • Exponents: display some wholes as exponents
  • Equations: display some numbers as simple equations.



    • Settings

    The Options menu allows you to enable a variety of settings.
    Note: you may not adjust options while a game is in progress (solve it first).

  • Card Back: select a favorite style of cards to play with.
  • Fact Color 1: select a color for facts displayed on the cards.
  • Fact Color 2: select the color for alternating facts.
  • Prompt Color: select the color of the prompts that tell you what to do.
  • Board Font: select the font used on the popup chalkboard.
  • Top Color: for a gradient background, select the topmost color.
  • Bottom Color: for a gradient background, select the bottommost color.
  • B/G Image: instead of a gradient background, select any image.
  • Make Card: displays dialog to make your own card fronts and backs.



    • Scoring

    In Fact Factory, the points are awarded based on the difficulty of the fact that was created and the operators used. Multiplication is factored higher than addition. A 3-fact formula is weighted higher than a 2-fact formula.

    In all of the three Facts modes, the points are simply the total value of the numbers used in a fact.
    Bonus points are given for answering questions quickly. The bonus points are shown in the Bonus box on the right.


    Credits and Rewards

    Credits are accumulated as you play the game. Redeem credits for a reward game. Reward games are available at the end of play. Each credit allows for 1 minute of play to a maximum of 9 minutes.




    Honour Roll

    Click on the Award icon to display high scores for the current mode and number set.




    Languages

    Edit the LANGUAGE.INI file to support most (Roman) languages. Copy the ENGLISH section, edit the values and set the LANGUAGE=XXXX setting to the new language. Contribute your language file to us to receive a free copy of any of our games.


    Support

    If you discover a problem with the product, please email us for a prompt reply.



    MathCards Software - Copyright © 2004 Knowledge Probe Inc.