Making Money

Game

This game involves some interesting connections with probability. Students will realise that getting a $4 amount is equivalent to two $2 throws. It is also far more valuable than many throws of the other amounts. This will make students cautious about accepting a throw if the coin shown is small. However, if each player fills four spaces, that will leave six unfilled spaces. This constraint means that a “take what you can get” philosophy will develop as well. Students might investigate the result of applying various tactics, such as:

• reject any throw until you get $2 or $4
• take whatever you get and be first to finish placing counters
• take any throw $1 or over
• take anything except 10c or 20c coins.

This can be carried out by players taking turns to use different strategies and playing many games to find out which method is most successful.

Activity

This activity requires students to look for the tactics that the players might be using. Moana has the largest sum of coins ($4.40) and has been using the “finish first” strategy (perhaps because her first throw gave her the only $4). From the coins listed, John has probably been going for anything $1 or over, and Filisi has been rejecting 10c and 20c coins. Although it is very unlikely that one player could get the three highest amounts, it is possible for a player to get $9.00 with $4, $2, $2, and $1. The smallest possible sum is 40 cents (10c, 10c, 10c, and 10c). Aiming for the smallest amount rather than the greatest is an excellent variation on the game.

Answers to Activity

Game
A game using money dice
Activity
(John $2.00, Moana $2.20, Filisi $1.70)
1. Moana
2. $4.50