Equate: The Equation Thinking Game

Other products by Conceptual Math Media

Product Features

• Have fun creating equations crossword-style.
• Includes a laminated playing board, 190 tiles, and 4 racks behind which players hide their tiles.
• Ages 8 through adult. 2 to 4 players.
• Great for the family or classroom
• Easy to learn

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 2 x 10 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00004U1RA
• Item model number: 4099229
• Our recommended age: 5 years and up
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #964 in Toys & Games (See Bestsellers in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Editorial Review

Equate looks a bit like Scrabble--for aspiring mathematicians, that is. Designed by a real mathematician, it works like this: You put down tiles on a board and make points by correctly completing simple equations. Your nine tiles include both numbers and mathematical symbols; you can add on to previous plays both vertically and horizontally. Learn simple stuff (like what division is) and more sophisticated ideas (like the order of precedence among arithmetic operations). It all adds up. --Richard Farr

Product Description

Have fun creating equations crossword-style while honing math skills from simple addition to fractions and algebraic logic. Included are a laminated board; 190 tiles including whole numbers, fractions, the 4 basic operations symbols, and equal symbols; a 23-page rules booklet with math review; and 4 racks. 2 to 4 players. Ages 8 to adult.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great idea, but, December 28, 2007

By	Soccer Mom (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

We played the game with gifted kids and adults age 9-40-plus and were surprised to find the kids were able to hold their own. But, like scrabble, the turns take forever! And, the scrabble concept doesn't really work well with the operators (=.+,-); too soon you run out of space on the sides as equations are much longer than words. You can't put two equations as close as two words and so there is much less opportunity for creativity in placing your pieces (e.g. you cannot make two equations in two directions; sometimes there are only one or two locations where it is possible to add an equation). We were getting scores of 10-30 points per turn, then one person added the following to an existing equation "0 X 34567 5/6 +." By hitting a triple equation score and got more than 270 points on one hand thereby effectively ending the game that had been relatively even. It seemed unfair even to him! Great idea flawed by long waits and poor design; unlikely to play it twice. C

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars educational & fun, December 7, 2007

By	a person "who loves to cook" (CO United States) - See all my reviews

Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

My sister actually found this game and my daughter played it at her house with my sister's husband. She liked it so much that we decided to buy it. As most parents, I'm always looking for ways to supplement my daughter's education. This turned out to be a fun way to get my daughter to think about math differently. Because she liked scrabble, she already knew the basic ideas about tile placement. We made it a little easier by allowing her to ask for help but she had to check our equations or finish them. The game is long but could be stopped at any time and I do agree that the plastic is not as nice as wood. However, in general, she asks to play this board game (which allows for more math practice) and it's definitely fun for the whole family.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Math Fun, January 7, 2008

By	Elizabeth Mechem (Lawrence, KS) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

I hate math, but this game is fun.

I remember improving my spelling and vocabulary with Scrabble. I was hoping this would do the same with math for my daughter. So far, so good. It's given my daughter great self-confidence in Math. She was doing division with fractions in the game, which she hasn't learned yet in school.

Only complaint:The tiles are cardboard and thin. Easy to lose, but they come in a ziploc type bag.