Introduction: When most people think about poetry, they don't think about math. However, in this activity poems are used to give you clues to help you solve some math puzzles. Enough time spent on this introduction … we're ready Sherlock for your deduction.

Problem:

1. For the first three poems (shown on the accompanying sheet), state your answer for the puzzle, Who am I?
   1. Digits: ______________________
   2. The Prime Suspect: _______________________
   3. I'm Really Not Mean, But I Am … _________________________
2. Show or explain each of your answers to the first three poems. Describe how the answer satisfies each of the clues given in the poem.
3. For the poem, Is it Magic?, pick a number and work through the steps. Do you get the answer with the "magical" number and the age you turn in 1998? Show your work.
4. Explain how the steps in the poem, Is it Magic?, work so that you always get the "magical" number and the age you turn in 1998.
5. How can you change Is it Magic? to give the age you will turn in 2000? How would you change the poem if you add nine instead of five in the third line of the poem?

Materials: Paper, pencil, calculator

Extra Questions: Create your own puzzle. Try to make it into a poem.

Number concepts, critical and creative thinking, communication

  Activity Type:

Group      Individual 

  Assessment:

Scale:    Levels 1-5   
Self     Peer     Teacher 
Include in your portfolio?
Yes     No     Optional 
Toward Your Marks?
Yes     No     Optional 

  Hints: