Play your way through Linear Algebra

The Linear Algebra Game Deck (54 Cards)

🌟 OBJECTIVE

Make connections between different representations of the same mathematical relationship by matching:

• Equation
• Narrative (word problem)
• Ordered Pair(s)
• Graph
• Table

Play by matching 2, 3, 4, or all 5 representations. The more complete the match, the more points you earn!

🎮 GAME SETUP

Deck Composition (54 cards):

• 10 Equation cards
• 10 Narrative cards
• 10 Ordered Pair cards
• 10 Graph cards
• 10 Table cards
• 4 Wild Cards (can be used as any card type)

Players: 1 to 4
Ages: Middle school and up
Play Time: 10–30 minutes

🤖 HOW TO PLAY

For 2–4 Players

1. Shuffle all cards and deal 7 to each player.

2. Place the remaining cards face down as the draw pile.

3. Turn one card face up to start the discard pile.

On your turn:

• Draw one card (from draw or discard pile)
• Make or add to a match if possible:
  • At least two cards must match (e.g., equation + table)
  • Up to 5-card full match
• Play one match per turn OR add to an existing one
• Discard one card to end your turn

Wild Cards: Use to fill in for any card type (limit: one per match). Replace later if the actual card is drawn.

End of Game:

• First player to      make 3 full matches (5 cards each) wins
• OR when draw      pile is empty: highest total score wins

Scoring:

• 2-card match =      1 point
• 3-card match =      2 points
• 4-card match =      3 points
• 5-card match =      5 points

  Of course, you can always make up your own games, especially if you are familiar with games like Spades, Pitty-pat, Solitaire, and Go fish.

Illinois State standards

Students grasp the concept of a function as a rule that assigns to each input exactly one output. They understand that functions describe situations where one quantity determines another. They can translate among representations and partial representations of functions (noting that tabular and graphical representation may be partial representations), and they describe how aspects of the function are reflected in the different representations. (Illinois State Board of Education, 2021)

Grades 6–8 Expectations: 

In grades 6–8 each and every student should–

• represent, analyze, and generalize a variety of      patterns with tables, graphs, words, and, when possible, symbolic rules;
• relate and compare different forms of      representation for a relationship;
• identify functions as linear or nonlinear and      contrast their properties from tables, graphs, or equations. (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2000)

References

Illinois State Board of Education. (2021). Illinois learning standards for mathematics. https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Illinois-Learning-Standards.aspxNational Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Principles and Standards for School Mathematics: Algebra. Reston, VA: NCTM, 2000. https://www.nctm.org/standards-and-positions/principles-and-standards/algebra/.