This is a suite of apps to have fun exploring adding, subtracting, and multiplying binary numbers. It was developed with upper elementary students in mind, but anyone can test their ability to acquire a new skill whether in the classroom or out, whether by oneself or with another.
One of the modules uses the letters Z and U as substitutes for zero and one. Students using this module experience solving mathematic problems by following simple rules even if they don’t know the numeric values behind the the symbols.
The subtraction module has a reGroup feature that shows how the minuend numbers can be regrouped to facilitate subtraction when there is a 0 in a particular column in the minuend and a 1 in the corresponding column in the subtrahend.
A carry feature in the addition module helps students add 1 + 1 by entering 0 and then ‘carrying’a 1 to the next column.
Students can challenge themselves to solve these problems or work in pairs handing the device back and forth as each tries to solve a new problem.