MathBase6 Instructions (22^nd March 2009)

Before installing MathBase6 first uninstall any previous version using Add or Remove programs in the Windows Control Panel.

To load on a Windows PC, run setup.exe and follow the on-screen instructions. By default, the program is installed at C:\Program Files\ MathBase\ MathBase6.exe. A shortcut is created on the start menu and can be accessed by clicking: Start > All Programs > MathBase > MathBase6.

To create a desktop shortcut, locate the program file at C:\Program Files\ MathBase\ MathBase6.exe and right click on MathBase6.exe, then click ‘Send to Desktop’

MathBase6 installation uses msi files. The actual msi file is MathBase6.msi and may be used to install MathBase6 on a network as required.

MathBase6 is a selection of 12 programs that are immediately accessible from the opening screen:

Each program consists of two matrices of cells that contain numbers. A cell from the left matrix is matched with a cell from the right matrix using left mouse-clicks.

The Setup button on the opening screen allows the user to alter the following items:

Full Screen: Determines if the program expands to fill the whole screen. MB6 may be used on monitors, laptops, interactive whiteboards and wide screen TVs. For best results ensure that the ‘Aspect Ratio’ panel is set appropriately for your monitoring device.

Program Help: When this option is selected, right clicking a program button gives a description of its action. Use this if you do not understand the purpose of any particular button.

Centre Bar: Shows or hides a centre separator bar for each program.

Sound: Determines if sounds are played in response to button clicks. The ‘Sound on Match’ panel selects the sound to play when a correct match is made between two cells.

The ‘Matrix Cell Shape’ panel selects the kind of cell shape. The ‘Matrix Colour Style’ panel affects the choice of colours for cell borders, backgrounds and text. The ‘Test Options’ panel selects minutes or seconds for use in timed tests. The 12 programs are described briefly as follows.

1.  Multiply and Divide

The top row of purple buttons set the number range to work with. The second row of orange buttons set a number to multiply or divide by.  Initially the number range is 1 – 100 and the operation is x2.  Division may be selected from the options panel (click the ‘Ops’ button).

The program covers mental multiplication and division with numbers in the range 0 to 1000. Pupils may use pencil and paper or other equipment to support their calculations if necessary, however, regular practise following a sequence of small steps should help improve mental performance.

All the games of MathBase6 have two grids that contain a number of rectangular cells. Numbers on the left are selected and matched with numbers on the right.  If a match is correct then both cells disappear. The aim is to match all the cells and clear the screen.

On an incorrect match, both cells are made red and corrective message will appear that must be clicked for the game to continue. Each wrong match scores a fault and is displayed in yellow. Five faults are allowed before the game must restart.

The number of correct and incorrect matches is shown at the bottom of the screen. These figures are cumulative so if the player returns from playing another game they will still be in place.

The player can start a new game by clicking the ‘New’ button. The button marked Man(ual) can be set to Auto(matic) in which case cells on the left are selected automatically after each correct match.

The ‘Test’ button starts the formation of a coloured disc that will give the player a certain time to match as many cells as possible. This can be varied from half a minute to three minutes.

Typing CTRL + L at the keyboard will disable the Exit button and a red letter L will appear in the bottom right hand corner. To remove the ‘LOCK’ press CTRL + L again.

The MathBase screen may be reduced to the taskbar by pressing ESCAPE on the keyboard. 

2.  Integer Division

This program concerns integer division within 100 by the numbers 1 to 10. The purple buttons set the range while the orange buttons decide the number to divide by.

Numbers in the left matrix are divided (by the number selected using the orange buttons) and are matched with the correct quotient and remainder.  Zero remainders can be either shown or hidden using the options panel.

Multiplication may also be selected from the options panel. In this case multiplication demonstrates the reverse of integer division – i.e. we multiply the quotient by the divisor and add the remainder to get back to the original number.

3.  Plus or Minus

This program practises adding and subtracting single-digit numbers from multiples of 10 and 100. A range of multiples of 10 can be chosen using the top row of purple buttons or alternatively multiples of 100 can be selected using the options panel.

The orange buttons can be used to select a specific single-digit number to add or subtract. By clicking a second time a range of single-digit numbers can be selected.

4.  Three Numbers

Initially this game involves the addition of 3 single-digit numbers. The range of these numbers is selected using the top row of purple buttons giving a possible maximum sum of 9 + 9+ 9.

Using the options panel we can choose:

a)     To add three multiples of 10 e.g. 30 + 60 + 10

b)     To add three multiples of 100 e.g. 400 + 200 + 300

c)      To add HTU’s written in order e.g. 500 + 20 + 3

d)     To add HTU’s in no order e.g. 20 + 3 + 500

e)     Random calculations such e.g. 700 + 30 + 600

f)      Products of single-digits e.g. 4 x 3 x 5

5.  Smallest and Largest

The top row of purple buttons can be used to select a working number range from 0 to 10,000. The orange buttons give a choice of four activities:

          a) Smallest: select the smallest from each pair

          b) Largest: Select the largest from each pair

          c) Less than or Greater than: select the correct sign from <, > or =

          d) True or False: decide if each statement is true or false

6.  Simple Sequences

Increasing and decreasing sequences formed by adding or subtracting a single-digit number. The purple buttons select the number range (up to 1000) while the orange buttons select a number, or when clicked a second time a range of numbers, to add or subtract.

The options panel can be used to select whether sequences are increasing, decreasing or a mixture of both.

7.  The Difference

The top row purple buttons select a number range up to 10,000. The game practises finding small differences, from 0 to 10, between two numbers. The options panel can be used to display either pairs of numbers or subtractions.
 

8.  Order of Operations

This game involves calculations based on the correct order of operations and brackets.  Using the orange buttons, operations can be practised individually or in any combination, with or without brackets.

The following conventions are applied. Combinations of addition and subtraction are performed from left to right. Combinations of multiplication and division are also performed from left to right.  Any multiplication or division is done before additions or subtractions. Brackets are always done first.

9.  Prime Numbers

The top row of purple buttons set the range of prime numbers to investigate.  Selecting a button such as 100 sets the range from 0 to 100, however clicking 100 a second time gives a more focused range 70 to 100.

The pupil must either identify a number on the left as prime or, in case the number is not prime, identify its lowest prime factor (LPF) i.e. its lowest factor greater than one.

10. Products of Primes

This program deals with numbers up to 150 expressing them as a product of their prime factors. The purple buttons set the range while the orange buttons select the prime factors to use.

11.  Multiply by 10

The six orange buttons are used to select multiplication or division by 10, 100 or 1000. The buttons can be used in any combination.

The options panel can be used to restrict numbers to ten thousand, one hundred thousand or one million.

12.  Expanding Brackets

This program gives pupils valuable practise in expanding simple brackets. The orange buttons select four simple situations and can be used in any combination.

The brackets should be expanded to produce the sum or difference of two terms. For a correct match the each term should be of the correct value and in the correct order (here the method of expansion is being tested rather than then end value).

Alternatively, the options panel can be set to ‘Calculate the value of’, in which case the pupils can either calculate the final value by expanding the brackets or by calculating the brackets first. It is important, of course, for pupils to realise that both methods always yield the same result.

Note that clicking the MathBase6 caption of each program will yield information concerning the currently required calculation.