Abstract:
A multiplication and division puzzle and method of making thereof include a main table having a plurality of cells in rows and columns, the cells being filled with products and multipliers. A template having a plurality of cells that correspond to the plurality of cells in the main table has selected cells removed to form openings therein to reveal a set of product clues in the main table when the template is superimposed or laid thereon. The product clues include the products in the cells of the main table. The non-selected cells that remain in the template, concealing the multiplier answer and non-selected product answers in the main table. The main table and template are used to form a puzzle blank having a plurality of cells containing the set of product clues and empty cells for the user to fill in missing product answers. The main table contains all of the product and multiplier answers.

Description:
This application claims priority to Applicant&#39;s co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/779,449 entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING A MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION PUZZLE” filed Mar. 7, 2006. The entirety of each of this patent application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     One of the challenges for students to successfully perform elementary mathematics is multiplication and the mastery of the multiplication table. The difficulty for some mathematics students to master the multiplication table, and therefore, understand basic multiplication, results in the students relying heavily on calculators to perform rudimentary computations. As a result, many students cannot perform basic mental arithmetic. Basic mental arithmetic is essential to the mastery of fractions, for example, where the student must determine common denominators and common multiples, and factor numbers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Existing multiplication tables have numbers or multipliers that are arranged in sequential order and merely require a linear thought process to determine the product or quotient to solve. As a result, a user of the existing multiplication tables does not determine the product and quotient as they would under real-life conditions, where the numbers are random. 
     There is an unmet need in the art for a method and system for creating a multiplication tool that helps teach students how to perform elementary mathematics, master the multiplication table, and otherwise provide a user-friendly approach for assisting students with multiplication. 
     One approach that is helpful to the student in learning and mastering the multiplication table is to employ a modified version of the multiplication table, as disclosed and described herein, which is designed as a learning tool in the form of a puzzle for practice as well as for fun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a method and system in which a student or user can learn and master multiplication and division. The present invention also includes a method and system in which a user can learn and master multiplication and division over a network, such as the Internet. In an embodiment of the present invention, the user accesses a website comprising the multiplication and division puzzle. 
     The present invention is directed to a learning tool in the form of a puzzle that teaches and reinforces basic multiplication and division skills, while providing an enjoyable activity for the user. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the puzzle comprises three elements: a main table in the form of a grid, a template, and a puzzle blank. The main table is formulated with a plurality of cells. The cells in a first row and a first column of the main table are filled with numbers that represent multipliers. The remaining cells are filled with numbers that represent the products at the intersection of the row and column multipliers. The numbers in the main table serve as a data bank for generating the puzzle blank. 
     The template also has a plurality of cells identical in shape or form to the main table, except that the template contains no numbers. Selected cells in the template are cut out to form openings or windows, so that when the template is superimposed or overlaid on the main table, the openings or windows reveal selected product cells in the main table while the remaining product cells are hidden from view. The template can also be the same size as the main table or smaller. 
     The puzzle blank is formed as a result of the overlay of the template on the main table or grid. The puzzle blank can be identical in form to the main grid, except that selected product cells are filled in, while remaining product and multiplier cells are empty. The template is superimposed over the main table to reveal through selected cells, product and multiplier clues to solving the puzzle, while the remaining cells of the template cover or conceal the answers in the data bank in the main table. The revealed product clues from the main table form the puzzle blank. The hidden product and multiplier cells, or non-selected cells, contain the product and multiplier answers. The user solves the puzzle by filling in the empty product and multiplier cells of the puzzle blank with the correct products and/or multipliers. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the user fills in the empty cells with the appropriate products and multipliers, in order to complete the puzzle. 
     Example embodiments of the present invention have now been described in accordance with the above advantages. It will be appreciated that these examples are merely illustrative of the invention. Many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is an example of the main table in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is an example of an expanded main table in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an example of the template in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an example of the template generation of a data set in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an example of the generated puzzle blank, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an example of the completed puzzle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are other examples of template configurations of puzzle blanks, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an example components diagram for a system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a block diagram of various system components, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1A  shows an exemplary multiplication table as a main table  2 . The main table  2  is in the form of a grid having a plurality of rows and columns. Multipliers  8  fill the cells  7  of the first row  4  and the first column  6 , for example, as shown in  FIG. 1A . The intersection of the first row and first column contains a multiplication sign  9 . Products  10  of the multipliers  8  in the rows and columns fill the remaining cells  7 . In  FIG. 1A , for example, the multipliers  8  are shown as numbers ranging from  2  through  12  and the products  10  are calculated by multiplying the multipliers  8  where they intersect in the grid. The multipliers  8  as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , for example, are randomly arranged to avoid any discernable patterns in the resulting multiplication products located at the intersecting cells  7  of the respective multipliers in the first row and first column. The multipliers  8  can be also sequentially arranged. A multiplier  8  can be any real number, positive or negative, or an algebraic quantity. 
     The main table can also be formed from a plurality of smaller identical tables. As shown in  FIG. 1B , for example, four smaller identical tables  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  and  14   d  containing the multipliers  8  and the respective products  10  can be combined to form an expanded main table  14 . Each of the four tables  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  and  14   d  of the expanded main table  14  in  FIG. 1B  are identical to the main table  2  in  FIG. 1A . 
     The main table  2 ,  14  is designed to serve as a data bank from which different sets of data for the puzzle can be generated, using a template  16  shown in  FIG. 2 , discussed below. 
     The cells  18  of the template  16  as shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, match the form of the cells  7  of the main table  2 ,  14  and have selected cells that are removed or cut out to form openings or windows  20 , while other cells  18  remain empty. The openings or windows  20  are configured so that when the template  16  is superimposed or overlaid on the main table  2 ,  14  as shown, for example, with the main table  14  in  FIG. 3 , the openings  20  permit selected sets of product clues in the data bank of the main table to be exposed therethrough, while the remaining product and multiplier answers are covered or concealed, and thereby blocked from the user&#39;s view. The template  16  can have openings in the form of, for example, the diagonal patterns as shown in  FIG. 3 . The template can also have openings  20  in the form of, for example, a rectangular pattern, a triangular pattern, a diamond shaped pattern or a random pattern in order to vary the complexity of the puzzle. 
     Thus, by laying the template  16  on the main table  2 ,  14  at different locations, a variety of data sets for the puzzle can be generated.  FIG. 4  illustrates an example of the resulting puzzle blank  24  for the user to complete. The puzzle of  FIG. 4  has a diagonally arranged set of product clues  22  in puzzle blank cells  26 . The user must use multiplication and division skills in order to fill in the empty puzzle blank cells  28  with the correct product answers and multiplier answers to solve the puzzle. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the completed puzzle  25  of  FIG. 4  in which the product answers  30  and multiplier answers  32  have been filled in by the user. 
     Other methods of selecting the data sets to generate the puzzle blank include, for example, electronic means, such as a program that randomly selects different products for the puzzle blank. Also, by altering the configurations of the cut outs in the template, other versions of the puzzle with varying degrees of difficulty can be generated, as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . For example, the program can select product cells  7  from the main table  2 ,  14  in adjacent diagonal patterns as shown in  FIG. 4 , or the spaced diagonal pattern of the puzzle blank  34  in  FIG. 6A  and the diamond shaped pattern of the puzzle blank  36  in  FIG. 6B . 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, in order to complete the puzzle, the user does not merely have to know the product of two numbers, but the user also has to recognize the common factors of certain numbers, which requires the ability to perform division. Thus, a forward and reverse type reasoning serves to reinforce the user&#39;s multiplication and division skills. 
     In an embodiment of the multiplication puzzle of the present invention, the user can link to the system by, for example, accessing the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). In this example, the user can access and launch the system of the present invention by entering the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the system in the title bar in the window of the ISP page. The system can also, for example, contain features to limit access to the system, such as features that require the user to register and include a security feature, wherein the user can enter a user identifier and password to login to the system. 
     With either the network option described above, or other options for operation, such as via local loaded software, the user is provided with selections for various options performable through the system. Such input and modifications are made, for example, via a graphical user interface (GUI). The screens of said GUI interface include, for example, the puzzle for completion by the user. 
     At any stage of the user&#39;s input, the user can return to the previous screen, select and deselect a table or an entry, repeat any of the above steps, save a completed or uncompleted puzzle or exit the system. Alternatively, after the user has completed the puzzle, the user can log out of the system. 
     The system of the present invention can also include an audio portion to provide entertainment to the user while the user is operating the system. 
     Access to the database and capabilities of the system of an embodiment of the present invention occur via hardware and access selections. As shown in  FIG. 8  in an embodiment of the present invention, with one option, a user  40 , can use locally loaded software at the user&#39;s terminal  41 , such as a personal computer (PC), minicomputer, microcomputer, mainframe computer, telephone device, hand-held device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), or other wireless device with a processor, display, and capability of connecting to a network  44 , such as the Internet. The user  40  can use the terminal to access a server  43  via couplings  45 ,  46 . The server  43  includes, for example, a PC, minicomputer, microcomputer, mainframe computer, or other device having a processor and a repository for data or connection to a repository for data. The couplings  45 ,  46  include, for example, wired, wireless, or fiberoptic connections. In another embodiment, the method and system of the present invention operate in a stand-alone environment, such as on a single terminal. 
     The present invention may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. In an embodiment, the invention is directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. An example of such a computer system  200  is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Computer system  200  includes one or more processors, such as processor  204 . The processor  204  is connected to a communication infrastructure  206  (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Various software embodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or architectures. 
     Computer system  200  can include a display interface  202  that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure  206  (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on the display unit  230 . Computer system  200  also includes a main memory  208 , preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory  210 . The secondary memory  210  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  212  and/or a removable storage drive  214 , representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive  214  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  218  in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit  218 , represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which is read by and written to removable storage drive  214 . As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit  218  includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. 
     In alternative embodiments, secondary memory  210  may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system  200 . Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit  222  and an interface  220 . Examples of such may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory (PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  222  and interfaces  220 , which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit  222  to computer system  200 . 
     Computer system  200  may also include a communications interface  224 . Communications interface  224  allows software and data to be transferred between computer system  200  and external devices. Examples of communications interface  224  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred through communications interface  224  are in the form of signals  228 , which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface  224 . These signals  228  are provided to communications interface  224  through a communications path (e.g., channel)  226 . This path  226  carries signals  228  and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF) link and/or other communications channels. In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to refer generally to media such as a removable storage drive  214 , a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  212 , and signals  228 . These computer program products provide software to the computer system  200 . The invention is directed to such computer program products. 
     Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) are stored in main memory  208  and/or secondary memory  210 . Computer programs may also be received through communications interface  224 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system  200  to perform the features of the present invention, as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor  204  to perform the features of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system  200 . 
     In an embodiment where the invention is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system  200  using removable storage drive  214 , hard drive  212 , or communications interface  224 . The control logic (software), when executed by the processor  204 , causes the processor  204  to perform the functions of the invention as described herein. In another embodiment, the invention is implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s). 
     In yet another embodiment, the invention is implemented using a combination of both hardware and software. 
     In yet another embodiment, the invention is implements using office materials such as a writing implement, paper and a cutting device. 
     Although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention, therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims.