First, you’ll watch a video to learn about Julia Detar, a videogame designer who creates online games for the company Arkadium, and how she uses math in her work. At the end of the video, Julia sets up a videogame-related algebra challenge. You will work with a partner to solve the challenge.

Record your name(s).

After you’ve finished this activity, you will be able to:

• Describe scenarios that require designers to use mathematics and algebraic reasoning in creating videogames;
• Identify a strategy and create a model for problem solving;
• Explain rate of change and slope; and
• Recognize and graph transformations.

Vocabulary

Read these words and their definitions. When you see them, you may click on them to read the definition again.

• Linear
• Coordinates
• Constant rate
• Slope
• Function

Just about all of us have played videogames at one time or another. Today, there are so many ways to play games. Whether it’s on a home system, on your computer, or on your cell phone—videogames are everywhere. We play them for fun but there can be a real art to gaming.

Discuss these questions with your partner, then record your answers in the box below. Don’t forget to save your work!

• How do you think mathematics is used to create videogames?
• Have you ever created a videogame? If so, please describe.

This video features videogame designer Julia Detar. Click “View” on the left to watch the video. You may want to watch the video multiple times before answering the questions below.

• Write down a few of the ways Julia uses math in her videogames.
• Describe the challenge that Julia poses to the teams in the video.

In the video you just watched, you learned about a game Julia designed in which an asteroid is moving on a collision course with a spaceship. The challenge now is to plot a linear path for the spaceship so it doesn’t crash into the asteroid. You need to plot the next two moves for the spaceship to avoid hitting the asteroid.

You will soon have an opportunity to solve the problem but before you do, think about the questions below and record your answers.

• Describe a situation in your daily life where you may need to apply the concept of finding a linear path or two linear paths that intersect.
• Why would you need more than one variable to identify location?

Now it’s your turn to solve the challenge. First, click “View” on the left to open the Math in Videogames: Take the Challenge handout. Print out the handout.

Next, click “View” below to explore the Take the Challenge interactive. Work with your partner to develop a strategy and complete the handout as you work through the activity.

Observe the strategies the teams used in the video. Are they similar or different from the strategy you used? Explain.

Now that you get how this works, try another challenge. Click “View” on the left to open the Math in Videogames: Try Other Videogame Challenges handout. Print out the handout.

Next, click “View” below to explore the Math in Videogames: Try Other Videogame Challenges interactive. Work with your partner to develop a strategy and complete the handout as you work through the activity.

Reflection: Now take the time to reflect on this activity and record your thoughts. Click “View” on the left to download the Reflection handout. Print out the handout.

Instructions

Discuss the questions on the handout with your partner. Then, answer the questions on your own. Be ready to present your conclusions for a classroom discussion.