http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ A search of MERLOT materials Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT. All rights reserved. Wed, 22 May 2013 12:50:59 PDT Wed, 22 May 2013 12:50:59 PDT http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/images/merlot.gif http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ 44 34 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=79238 This is the May 2001 version of Alexander Bogomolny's "Cut The Knot!" column. It discusses the game of Nim and variants. Featured are interactive Java applets and a wealth of links to related web sites. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=79186 Wythoff?s Nim is a sub-page of Alexander Bogomolny?s Cut The Knot! site reviewed elsewhere in MERLOT; in particular, it is a sub-page of the Games and Puzzles section of the site. This page includes a java applet embodying a two-player strategy game that involves cornering a queen on a chessboard of sorts. An accompanying strategy analysis by Martin Gardner reveals that this game is isomorphic to Wythoff?s Nim, a version of the famous game of Nim. The recursively determined winning strategy is then analyzed as a set of numerical sequences with very deep and interesting results. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=76622 Presents a calculator with only a few numbers and functions that work, and asks the user to generate the numbers 1-15 with the limited functionality. On the same page is an article about the use of calculators when teaching math, and about innumberacy in general. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=79352 Balance. To balance a wide range of objects: From electrons to galaxies. Didactical tool. To teach about fractions, and rational numbers. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=86520 This virtual manipulative from the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives emulates the traditional abacus. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=75170 Another sliding 8-tile puzzle. No pictures/loads fast. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=79239 A bicolor variant of the classic Towers of Hanoi game from Alexander Bogomolny's Cut The Knot site. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=75105 Blackjack game using Java, Javascript, and Perl CGI scripts. Features high score submission, rules and basic strategy for common Atlantic City blackjack play, including doubling down and splits. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=75163 The Sliding Piece Puzzle is quite popular, the rules are simple but it requires deep thought. The object is to move the largest square out through the indicated slot (thick line outside the board). http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=76388 In solving this puzzle, you permute rows, columns, and quadrants in a 4x4 array of 2-color tiles to make a variety of symmetric designs. A link to underlying theory is provided.