Illuminations Interactive Math Tools are math applets that you can use to explore mathematics and create interactive lessons.

The Factor Game

The Factor Game is a fun interactive game that exercises your factoring ability. Test your skills against a human or the computer. See the rules below.


Factor Game Rules

The Factor Game Board
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  1. Player A chooses a number on the game board by clicking on it with the mouse. This colors the number.
     
  2. Using a different color, Player B clicks on all the proper factors of Player A's number. The proper factors of a number are all the factors of that number, except the number itself. For example, the proper factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Although 12 is a factor of itself, it is not a proper factor.
     
  3. Player B colors a new number, and Player A colors all the factors of the number that are not already colored.
     
  4. The players take turns choosing numbers and coloring factors.
     
  5. If a player chooses a number that has no factors left that have not been colored, that player loses a turn and does not get the points for the number colored.
     
  6. The game ends when there are no numbers remaining with uncolored factors.
     
  7. Each player adds the numbers that are colored with his or her color. The player with the greater total is the winner.

Click here to start playing the factor game.

This Factor Game applet was adapted with permission and guidance from:

Prime Time: Factors and Multiples, Connected Mathematics Project, G. Lappan, J. Fey, W Fitzgerald, S. Friel and E. Phillips, Dale Seymour Publications, (1996) pp.1-16.




Last updated: April 15, 2003

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