February 2 Chess Game Cover Image

Feb. 17 Math & Games Puzzle: Chess Champion Kasparov Beats IBM Computer

February 17 was the date of a famous chess match. This warm-up mixed review activity addresses skills that include proportions, visual thinking, geometric sequence, build a table based on an exponential growth pattern, and square root in the context of the game of chess. The puzzle is about Russian world chess champion Gary Kasparov defeating the IBM chess-playing computer Deep Blue.

Your Zip download includes printable/digital PDFs:

1-page printable Student Puzzle
1-page Answer Key with sample solutions
1-page version of puzzle with expanding form fields – use with Acrobat Reader
A complete file including the student puzzle, answer key, 5 pages of Teacher Notes including complete solutions, several Extensions (including one where students try to discover an exponential expression that could be used to determine the number of grains of wheat that would be on any square number in the chess reward scenario), historical notes, and a variety of professional development support.