How do you play Gazintas?
1. Introduction and items needed
Gazintas is a game of multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers. Game play is simple. Here's what you need:
1 pencil
1 or more pieces of paper
1 die
1 coin
1 calculator [for optional scoring]
2. Game play modes
The rules are extremely simple. First, you need to select any of four modes:
multiply fractions:
Multiply two fractions, no mixed numbers allowed.
divide fractions:
Divide two fractions, no mixed numbers allowed.
multiply mixed:
Multiply mixed numbers.
divide mixed:
Divide mixed numbers.
3. Mode difficulty settings
Each mode has two or three difficulty settings. Fraction-only modes have 2 levels of difficulty and mixed modes have 3. Here's the explanation on each:
fraction easy:
You must have one digit per each of 2 numerators and denominators.
fraction hard:
You must have two digits per each of 2 numerators and denominators.
mixed easy:
You must have one digit per each of the whole number and the numerators and denominators in each.
mixed medium:
You must have 2 digits for the whole number, but 1 digit for each the numerator and denominator on both OR
You must have one digit for the whole number, but 2 digits for each the numerator and denominator.
mixed hard:
You must have 2 digits for the whole number, numerator, and denominators of each fraction.
4. Getting randomization
Once you've selected your mode and difficulty, you can then start the game. To get the random digits, you need a die and a coin. Here's how the random digit deciding will work:
- Roll the die and flip the coin.
- Add the value of the die's face and add 0 for tails and 5 for heads.
- If the total is 10, you have a zero for a digit, otherwise take the digit you get.
- If the die reveals a 6, you can pick whatever number you want.
The digit order must always be the same. The standard is, in this order:
- whole number of first fraction [if you've chosen a mode in which there is no whole number, skip this step].
- numerator of first fraction for tens digit [if you've chosen the easy mode or medium mode, skip this step].
- numerator of first fraction for ones digit [this step must be considered].
- denominator of first fraction for tens digit [skip if you've chosen easy or medium]
- denominator of first fraction for ones digit [this step must be considered].
- Repeat items 1 to 5 for the second item.
With only fractions, use the cross-multiply trick as shown below. Think of these two fractions:
16 36
-- ÷ --
9 29
As with dividing fractions, invert the second one.
16 29
-- × --
9 36
Then use the "gazintas" mathod to reduce the fractions. In this example, you consider the fractions after the "gap".
16\/29 16 29
9/\36 36 9
Notice that the two denominators have been switched? Consider these two fractions and try to simplify them. 29/9 cannot be reduced, but 16/36 can quite well. Both have 4 in common. Cross these two out and divide each by 4 and set something to the side of your page for scoring.
4
16 29
-- × --
9 36
9
4
16 29
-- × --
9 36
9
Then, find the answer to the math question:
4 3
16 29 29 116
-- × -- × 4 ---
9 × 36 116 81
9
To find your score value, add 50% to the number you divided by squared to do your "Gazintas". To demonstrate, Because you changed 16 to 4, you're Gazinta value is 4. 42 is 16 and 50% more is 24, thus you score 24 points.
Footnotes:
There are no footnotes for this page.
