Number Bulls & Cows | Number games

One player tries to guess the other player's mathematical rule.

Description

The Chooser thinks of a rule that converts one number into another (a mathematician would call this a "function"). The Guesser then tries to guess the rule by testing it with different numbers.
For example, if the Chooser thought of the rule "double it and add one", the game might proceed as follows:
Guesser: "1" - Chooser: "3"
Guesser: "2" - Chooser: "5"
Guesser: "10" - Chooser: "21"
Guesser: "100" - Chooser" "201"
Guesser: "I think it's double and add one" - Chooser: "Correct!"
The rule can be anything you like, but sometimes the Guesser may have to guide the Chooser in the right direction; for example: "Try something larger", or "Try a negative number".

Examples

Here are some other suggested rules:

• The number of letters in the word for the number (6 -> 3).
• 100 minus the number squared (9 -> 19).
• The number reversed (17 -> 71)

Play Function Game

Visit our dedicated Function Game site:
www.functiongame.com

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Function Game | Number Games

One player tries to guess the other player's mathematical rule.

Description

The Chooser thinks of a rule that converts one number into another (a mathematician would call this a "function"). The Guesser then tries to guess the rule by testing it with different numbers.
For example, if the Chooser thought of the rule "double it and add one", the game might proceed as follows:
Guesser: "1" - Chooser: "3"
Guesser: "2" - Chooser: "5"
Guesser: "10" - Chooser: "21"
Guesser: "100" - Chooser" "201"
Guesser: "I think it's double and add one" - Chooser: "Correct!"
The rule can be anything you like, but sometimes the Guesser may have to guide the Chooser in the right direction; for example: "Try something larger", or "Try a negative number".

Examples

Here are some other suggested rules:

• The number of letters in the word for the number (6 -> 3).
• 100 minus the number squared (9 -> 19).
• The number reversed (17 -> 71)

Play Function Game

Visit our dedicated Function Game site:

www.functiongame.com

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Sprouts | Topological Games

The players take turns in joining dots according to simple rules, until one player cannot make a move.

Description

Start by drawing two or more spots on a piece of paper.
Players then take turns to make a move, according to the following rules:

• Draw a curve joining two spots, or a single spot to itself. The curve must not pass through another spot.
• Draw a spot on the new curve.
• No more than three lines can emerge from any spot.

The last player to be able to move wins.
The game is remarkably complicated, and even starting with two spots leads to an interesting game.

Example

In the following sample game with two spots Blue has the first move, and Red wins after 4 moves because Blue has no move:

History

Sprouts was invented by the mathematicians M. S. Paterson and J. H. Conway, and was analysed in Winning Ways, Academic Press, 1982.

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