Use all of the cards to create a continuous red line from start to finish. Keep dragging cards onto the yellow square until all of the cards are on the grid.
FINISH
START
The Path Puzzle grid above can also be used for a two-player game. Players take it in turns to drag cards onto the grid. A player wins the game if they drag the last card that links the red line to the finish square or if the other player crashes into the edge. The inspiration for this activity comes from The Black Path Game (also known by various other names, such as Brick) which is a two-player board game described and analysed in the book 'Winning Ways for your Mathematical Plays' and was invented by Larry Black in 1960. |
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Transum.orgThis web site contains over a thousand free mathematical activities for teachers and pupils. Click here to go to the main page which links to all of the resources available. Please contact me if you have any suggestions or questions. |
More Activities: |
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Here Is A Clue!In the solution that Transum found for the Level 1 puzzle the red path did not cross over itself. |
Each month a newsletter is published containing details of the new additions to the Transum website and a new puzzle of the month. The newsletter is then duplicated as a podcast which is available on the major delivery networks. You can listen to the podcast while you are commuting, exercising or relaxing. Transum breaking news is available on Twitter @Transum and if that's not enough there is also a Transum Facebook page. |
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AnswersThe solutions to this and other Transum puzzles, exercises and activities are available in this space when you are signed in to your Transum subscription account. If you do not yet have an account and you are a teacher or parent you can apply for one here. A Transum subscription also gives you access to the "Class Admin" student management system and opens up ad-free access to the Transum website for you and your pupils.
If you are already a Transum subscriber you can sign in here. |
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Go MathsLearning and understanding Mathematics, at every level, requires learner engagement. Mathematics is not a spectator sport. Sometimes traditional teaching fails to actively involve students. One way to address the problem is through the use of interactive activities and this web site provides many of those. The Go Maths main page links to more activities designed for students in upper Secondary/High school. | |||||
Teachers | |||||
If you found this activity useful don't forget to record it in your scheme of work or learning management system. The short URL, ready to be copied and pasted, is as follows: |
Alternatively, if you use Google Classroom, all you have to do is click on the green icon below in order to add this activity to one of your classes. |
It may be worth remembering that if Transum.org should go offline for whatever reason, there are mirror site at Transum.info that contains most of the resources that are available here on Transum.org. When planning to use technology in your lesson always have a plan B! |
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Do you have any comments? It is always useful to receive feedback and helps make this free resource even more useful for those learning Mathematics anywhere in the world. Click here to enter your comments. |
Transum,
Thursday, March 28, 2019
"The game version of this activity (Black Path Game) features in Martin Gardner's Sixth book of Mathematical Diversions and a mathematical analysis of various strategies can be seen in Game and Puzzle Design volume 1 By Cameron Browne.
The Transum version is presented as a puzzle rather than a game but the level 8 game board can be used to play the game if pupils are seated in pairs at the computer.
The difficulty increases quite dramatically between the levels. At the time of writing no one, including myself, has managed level eight but it definitely is possible."
Bell Foozwell,
Saturday, September 18, 2021
"I’ve just completed all the path puzzles, and I first want to say how much I enjoyed them. Level 8 was quite challenging, but it was satisfying."