Introduction

In this report you will be learning about the game, Dealing Down, and some
tips and tricks to help you win. Dealing Down is a fun math game that is in relation
to the other math game, Dealing Up. In Dealing Down you and a partner get the
same 4 cards. Those cards can be negative, positive, fractions, and decimals. When
the players deal the cards they both have to find the expression that would give
the least possible answer separately. Then, the player with the least answer gets a
point and vice- versa. Finally, if you use labsheet UP.A you have to record your
cards, equation, who won, and why you or your partner won.
Operations with Positive and Negative Numbers
One tool you can use for getting the lowest possible answer from the cards
that are dealt is knowing how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide positive and
negative numbers. You should already know how to add, subtract, multiply, and
divide positive number since youre supposed to learn about this in elementary
school. However, some people might not know how to add, subtract, multiply, and
divide negative numbers. When you add negative numbers together you just have to
remember to forget about the second negative sign and act as if youre subtracting
the second positive number from the negative number. Example of adding two
negative numbers: -2+ (-8) = -10 -> -2-8= -10. When you add a negative number to a
positive number you just have to turn the negative number into a positive number.
You can do this by just taking away the negative sign. (Example: -8 -> 8.) Also,
instead of adding now you have to subtract. Example of adding a negative number
to a positive number: 2+ (-8) = -6 -> 2-8= -6. Finally, when you add a positive number
to a negative number just switch the numbers around. You can do this because of
the Commutative Property of Addition, which youll learn about later. After doing
this you just have to follow what to do if you add a negative number to a positive
number, which you learned about before.
Now, when you subtract two negative numbers its just like adding the
second negative numbers absolute value (absolute value means that numbers
distance from zero) to the first negative number. Example of subtracting two
negative numbers: -2 (-8) = 6 -> -2+8= 6. When you subtract a negative number
from a positive number you do the exact same thing you did with the two negative
numbers: turn the 2
nd
(or in this case only) negative number into a positive number
and add normally. Example of subtracting a negative number from a positive
number: 2- (-8) = 10 -> 2+8= 10. Finally, when you subtract a positive number from a
negative number you just subtract normally. However, you have to remember that
when you subtract on the negative side, the numbers alone will get larger, but the
negative sign in front of them means that the numbers get smaller. Example of
subtracting a positive number from a negative number: -2 8= -10 -> -10< (-2)
With multiplying any combination of negative and positive numbers you just
have to follow these steps: 1. Multiply the absolute value of both numbers. 2. Only
if there was one negative number and one positive number being multiplied then the
answer is negative. However, if youre multiplying 3, 5, 7, or any other odd number
of factors you multiply normally (without the negative signs) and add the negative
sign back at the end. Also, if youre multiplying 4, 6, 8 or any other even number of
factors you multiply normally (without the negative signs).
With dividing any combination of negative and positive numbers you have to
do the same exact thing as you did with the multiplication. However, anytime you
had to multiply, you divide instead.
Order of Operations
Order of operations is a rule that you have to follow if youre trying to
figure out the answer of an equation with more than 2 numbers. Order of
operations exists so that the equation would always have the same answer.
Example: Without Order of Operations -> 2-3+7x42= 12, but with Order of
Operations -> 2-3+7x42= 13. The numbers 13 and 12 are two different answers.
This is why Order of Operations exists. The order for Order of Operations could
be remembered as PEMDAS. Heres what each letter stands for: P- Parentheses,
E- Exponents, M- Multiplication, D- Division, A- Addition, and S- Subtraction.
However, PEMDAS isnt always correct. Multiplication doesnt always come before
division and addition doesnt always come before subtraction. Whichever operation
comes first (left to right) is what you do first.
Commutative Properties of Addition and Multiplication
The Commutative Properties of Addition and Multiplication is a property
that states that in any addition or multiplication problem you could switch around
any of the numbers. Example: 2x3x4x5= 4x2x5x3 2+3+4+5= 4+2+5+3. This can help
you when you multiply and add because it can make the problem somewhat easier.
Example: 6+34554= 34554+6= 34560 4x10x6= 4x6x10= 240.

Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition
and Subtraction
The Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition and Subtraction is
the property that states that if there is a similar factors in a number string you
could change it by using the Property of Multiplication over Addition and
Subtraction. This would just simplify the equation and possibly make it easier to
solve. Example: (2x5)+(2x10)= 2x(5+10)= 30 or (2x10)-(2x5)= 2x(10-5)= 10.
Reflection
Some things that I learned from playing Dealing Down is how to be really
strategic in order to win. I really learned how to carefully place the numbers and
operations to get the lowest possible number. Sadly, my partner and I always tied.
I also learned that I could have used the Distributive Property of Multiplication
over Addition and Subtraction. I didnt use this property because I forgot about it.
However, I did use these other concepts to play Dealing Down. I found that Order
of Operations worked the best since you could twist these numbers around with
the parentheses to get the lowest possible answer.