Weigh the Wangdoodles

Weigh the Wangdoodles is an algebra-based game on www.mathplayground.com. It is an excellent way of introducing middle school students to basic algebra by using visual representations. Before playing this game, I usually have my students try all three levels of Algebra Scales, another game found on the same website.

I have been asked to explain the steps and reasoning for the game Weigh the Wangdoodles.

The game is based on solving systems of equations and shows three colors of Wangdoodles on scales, two at a time. Pictures of the wangdoodles are shown below the equations given. The variables stand for the colors blue, reed, and green. For example, one problem showed this setup:

G + R =9 B + G = 12 R + B = 17

The steps are simple: Add (combine )two equations , then subtract the third to get a simple equation that can be solved.

So

G + R + B + G = 9 + 12 or 2G + R + B =21

Then subtract

R + B = 17

to get

2G = 4

So G = 2.

You can then use that value to find the other two using the original equations. And the Wangdoodles are weighed! Check out this game!