Maggie Chen 4/7/14

710
Dealing Down Report
In class, we played a card game called Dealing Down. The main focus of the game is to
explore different operations in order to get the lowest answer possible. We used operations like
parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. First, we started the
game by dealing four cards out for the first round. The cards consisted of negative numbers and
positive numbers. But they were all rational numbers. We played with a partner and tried to
make different operations in order to make the expression the lowest possible. Then we
compared to see which simplified expression was the lowest. We explored different operations
within this game.
In Dealing Down, I had to add, subtract, multiply, and also divide for not only positive
numbers, but also negative numbers. For adding a positive number, I added the amount of
number needed and for subtracting with positive numbers that has a smaller second number than
the first, I just subtracted the number desired like usual. If the second positive number was
greater than the first, then I found the distance of the second number to zero, then from zero to
the first number, and then I finally added the numbers together. For example, if I had -6 minus -
10, I found the distance of 10 to 0 which is 10. Next, I found the distance from 0 to -6 which is -
6. Therefore, -6 plus 10 is -4 which would be my answer. However, when I added a negative
number, I still just added the number but for subtraction with a negative number, I had to add
sometimes when the second number that I was subtracting was a negative number. For example,
8-(-2) is the same as 8+2. Your answer will still come out to be 10. But if the number that you
are subtracting (from the subtrahend in the equation) is positive, then you can just subtract like
usual. For multiplication and division with a positive number, you just multiply or divide like
usual and the product or quotient will be positive. But if you are multiply or dividing with a
negative number, then there are some rules to follow. If you are multiplying, then you should
keep in mind that a negative x negative= positive, negative x positive= negative, positive x
negative= negative. If you are dividing, then you should remember that a negative / negative=
positive, negative / positive= negative, positive / negative= negative. Here are some examples of
equations to show/ illustrate the rules: 6*6= 36, -8*-8= +64, -9/9= -1.
While playing Dealing Down, I used different operations for different purposes. If I
wanted to get a negative number, then I would use multiplication or division. But if I wanted to
keep it the same like positive or negative, then Id use subtraction or addition too. In the game, I
usually did multiplication or division first to get a negative number. Then, I did either addition or
subtraction as many times as needed with the rest of the numbers. Heres an equation that I did:
(-7 x 2 x-2) +1 which gave me +29. Using these different operations can help you get your
desired number.


Order of Operations is a series of steps to solve an equation. The order is parentheses,
exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. This can also be referred to as
PEMDAS. However, multiplication and division can be switched. This also goes for addition and
subtraction. It only depends on which expression comes first when you look left to right. They
are interchangeable. For example, 5-2+1 is 4. You subtract the numbers first and then add 1 to
the answer. The Order of Operations exists because the mathematicians (who created this
algorithm a long time ago) wanted a standard order so there would be only one way to simplify
an expression. They wanted us to all have the same equation which would lead to only one
answer. If everyone got a different answer, then there would be a few different ways to solve an
equation and there would be a many different answers. You wouldnt know which answer is
correct and which answer isnt. There would be a lot of disagreements to which answer is the
right one. The Order of Operations helps us get one correct answer.
The Commutative Properties of Addition and Multiplication are properties that allow you
to change the order of the numbers within the equation without changing the product or sum. It
will still lead you to the same answer. For example, 2x3 is 6 and 3x2 is also 6. Or 172+18 is 190
or 18+172 is also 190. The results will always stay the same even if the order of the numbers is
changed. But keep in mind that the Commutative Property ONLY works for addition and
multiplication. It doesnt work for division and subtraction. For example, 12/4 is 3 and 4/3 isnt
12. Its 1.3333333 The answer is definitely not the same and youll get a totally different
answer if you mix up the order of the numbers. The Commutative Property of Addition and
Multiplication can help me in many different ways. One way that it can help me is that when I
am better at adding a smaller number to a bigger number, then I can change the order of the
numbers. Or if I am better at adding the bigger number to the smaller number, then I can adjust
the equation. Sometimes, I am better at certain numbers depending on if it is positive or negative
or even or odd. For example, 19+9271 is sometimes easier than 9217+19. Another example is
1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9. Instead of adding all of the numbers in order, first, I can find the sets that
gives me 10 and once theres no more, I would add the rest up. So, I would do 9+1, 8+2, 7+3,
and then 6+4 which gives me 40. Afterwards, Id add the remaining number which is 5 to 40 that
would give me 45, my final answer. It also helps me with multiplication for the same reasons.
But also, if there are more than two numbers to multiply, then I can put the lowest numbers first
and then put the bigger number last to multiply. For example, 1x 2x 19 is easier for me than 19x
2x 1. These are just a few reasons why and how the commutative property can help when it
comes to addition and multiplication.
The Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition and Subtraction are properties
that allow you to separate the multiplication into different parts that can include addition or
subtraction. For example, if the equation is 70(2 x 3), you can do 70 x 2+70 x 3. Or, if the
equation is 15(7+100), its be easier to do 15 x 7+15 x 100 rather than doing 15 x 170. This can
help me with rational numbers because sometimes, if the numbers arent integers, it can be
somewhat tricky. Youll have a lot of numbers from different parts of integers and it might get


confusing for me sometimes. Like 7(1/4 - 10/12 1/2). Therefore it would help if I did 7x 1/4 +
7 x 10/12 + 7 x 1/2. The two equations will still help me get the same and correct answer. The
Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition and Subtraction can help you can split the
multiplication into different parts and make the equation easier.
Overall, using different operations helped me get the lowest quantity possible for my
answer. I tried to use mostly multiplication and division in my equations because the rules are
stable and I can make then either positive or negative. They are predictable depending on the
signs and if they are negative or positive. But if the numbers were sometimes fractions or
decimals, I would also use the Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition and
Subtraction. Id use parentheses to separate the division and multiplication sometimes as well to
separate it from addition or subtraction. Then, I would use the leftover numbers and either
subtract them or add them to the equation. The Order of Operations helps me figure out from left
to right, which equation contains the lowest quantity.