Pow #3 Write-up
Hayley Rodriguez
Process
Starting with the ten lines. Choose which partner goes first. Each person can only
cross out 1,2 or 3 lines. Taking turns each partner keeps crossing out how many lines they want until one
of the partners is the last one to cross out all of the lines. While playing this it is obvious that luck is not
in it at all, it is all about math strategy. Even though you can’t control what the other person does you
can see all of the ways that you can either win or you can tell when you have lost.
Strategies
I had a lot of ideas and a lot of marks on paper. That was not the best strategy, I found that it
was more like a waste of time. I started with playing a few games with different people, just so I can
test if my strategy of four was right. I found out that when the other person has to go and there is four
marks on the paper then they will lose. What I would always try to do is make the person’s turn be
when there is four marks left. This strategy only work if you can only cross up to three lines.
Evaluation
I thought this problem was very fun to do. I do think that this was educationally worthwhile,
because in a lot of jobs it requires that you find strategies quickly. What I learned from this is that all
of the games are really about math not about luck. All that you have to do is concentrate on what the
people that are winning are doing. This POW was not too hard and not too easy. I really enjoyed this
POW.
Hayley Rodriguez
Process
Starting with the ten lines. Choose which partner goes first. Each person can only
cross out 1,2 or 3 lines. Taking turns each partner keeps crossing out how many lines they want until one
of the partners is the last one to cross out all of the lines. While playing this it is obvious that luck is not
in it at all, it is all about math strategy. Even though you can’t control what the other person does you
can see all of the ways that you can either win or you can tell when you have lost.
Strategies
I had a lot of ideas and a lot of marks on paper. That was not the best strategy, I found that it
was more like a waste of time. I started with playing a few games with different people, just so I can
test if my strategy of four was right. I found out that when the other person has to go and there is four
marks on the paper then they will lose. What I would always try to do is make the person’s turn be
when there is four marks left. This strategy only work if you can only cross up to three lines.
Evaluation
I thought this problem was very fun to do. I do think that this was educationally worthwhile,
because in a lot of jobs it requires that you find strategies quickly. What I learned from this is that all
of the games are really about math not about luck. All that you have to do is concentrate on what the
people that are winning are doing. This POW was not too hard and not too easy. I really enjoyed this
POW.