Millionaire Radicals Topic Index | Algebra Index | Regents Exam Prep Center

Ask the audience

Phone a friend

50 - 50

This activity requires some "prep" time.  Prepare a series of multiple choice questions pertaining to radicals that can be viewed on the overhead projector.  Review books are excellent sources of information for these questions.

1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.

2. Number the groups.

3. Questions should be visible to everyone at all times.

4. Start with group number one and ask them to answer the first question.

5. If the group answers correctly, record the score, and go on to group two with a new question.  If group number one answers incorrectly, show the correct answer and go on to group two with a new question.  Another alternative process (to keep everyone focused on all of the questions) is to allow other groups to record what they believe to be the correct answer to incorrectly answered questions.  The groups should keep a separate sheet to record these answers.  Use these papers for bonus points, extra credit, etc. after the Millionaire Radicals game is finished.

6. Continue around the room for at least 4 rounds. (5 is better)

When the game begins, each group has the three options of "ask the audience", "phone a friend", or "50-50".   Each option may be used only once.  (With the exception of 50-50, these options are not terribly helpful, but they do add a sense of excitement to the game.)  Most students have seen the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" television program and are familiar with these "life lines."

Ask the audience - the group asks that all of the other groups submit an answer to the question.  These other groups, however, may be supplying the correct answer or attempting to bluff.

Phone a friend - the group may ask ONE individual to answer the question (not the teacher).

50-50 - the teacher will eliminate two of the four multiple choice answers leaving the correct answer and one wrong answer.

The winning group is the group with the highest score at the end of the 5 rounds.  Be careful to prepare questions of equal difficulty for each round.  The difficulty level should increase as each round passes.  In the case of a tie, the group with the highest number of "life lines" remaining wins.  Ties could also be broken with a "lightning" round of more challenging questions.