Squarrows

An Elementary Introduction to Algebra (draft 1)

Oliver Steele
2007
Squarrows
An elementary introduction to abstract algebra.

INTRODUCING SQUARROWS

Squarrow Chains More Squarrows Squarrow Tails Squircles

1
+1
2 3 !2
6
2
+1
11
-1
10 ÷2
5 -1
4 Find numbers that make a circle.
+10 +2
2 4 2 6 Are any of these impossible? Do any have more than one answer?
÷2

+1
5 4
+2 +4 -1 -1
5 3 +5
2 3 2 4 1 2
+3 !2 ÷2
3 5 +3 -10 x2
-1 ÷2 -1
+2 15
4
+4 !2
8 3 7 2
÷2
+6 !3
6 9 -1
2 +1 5 +1 +1 -10
4 6
3 +1 +2

+3 +3
-1 ÷2 -1 -9 x3 +10 x2
3 +1 +2

+1 +1
+1 +2 ÷2
9
-1
3 +2 +1 3
+7 +7
2 8 +10
+1 !2
+3
3
-1 ÷2 -1
+3 +6 +6
+1 !2 -10 ÷2 -18 +5
10 ÷2
+7
3 !2 +1 -1
÷2
-1
3

Squarrows is a workbook for teaching algebraic concepts at the elementary school level. Squar-
rows is independent of the formalisms of algebra (such as variables, and the syntax of equations),
but can be used to develop many of its concepts.

Background

I used Squarrows in teaching a group of fourth graders at the Wildwood Elementary School in
Amherst, MA, in fall 2007. We met once a week for 45 minutes; we used a number of different
problems worksheets, but used Squarrows as one of two “running problem sets”, with a new
page every week or two.

I learned a lot from the students – how to think about math, but also about the degrees of abstrac-
tion, reflection, and sophistication that even very young minds are capable of. Class was more
like a graduate-school seminar; I got more ideas from them than they from me.

©2007 by Oliver Steele • email: steele@osteele.com • web: http://osteele.com!

PART I: BASIC SQUARROWS

©2007 by Oliver Steele • email: steele@osteele.com • web: http://osteele.com!

 Squarrows
1
+1
2 3 +2
5

+1 +2
2 4

+1 +4
5 3

+1 +2
3 5

+2 +2
4 8

+2 +3
6 9

+2
1 3

2 5

0 3

3 9
 Squarrow Chains
1
+1
2 3 !2
6

+10 +2
2 4

+2 +4
5 3

+3 !2
3 5

+4 !2
4 8

+6 !3
6 9

4 6
+1 +2
3

+1 +2
3

+1 +2
9

+2 +1
3

+1 !2
3

+1 !2
10

3 !2 +1
 More Squarrows
+1
2
2 6

+1
2 3 2 4

+2
3 7

2 +1 5 +1

+3 +3

+1 +1

+7 +7
2 8

+3 +6 +6

+7
PART II: A DIVERSION – NUMBER PAIRS

Oliver Steele • email: steele@osteele.com • web: http://osteele.com!

 Fruit Facts
5 +3 ! =8

A 3 +5 ! = ____
7 +2 ! = ____
2 +7 ! = ____

5 +3 ! =8
5 +3 ! =8

B
5 +3 ! =5 +3
5 +3 ! = ____ + ____
5 +3 ! = ____
4 +7 ! = ____ + ____
4 +7 ! = ____ + ____

C
5 +2 +3 +4 ! = 8 +6
5 +2 +3 +4 ! = 9 + 5
2 +1 +1 ! = ____ + ____
2 +1 +1 ! = ____ + ____

1 +3 + 2 +8 = ____ + ____

D 2
7
+5
+2
+ 9
+ 6
+4
+4
= ____
= ____
+ ____
+ ____
3 +1 + 2 +1 = ____ + ____
 1 +4 + 6 +2 = ____ + ____

E
6 +2 + 1 +4 = ____ + ____
2 +9 + 7 +3 = ____ + ____
7 +3 + 2 +9 = ____ + ____

2 +3 + 2 +3 = ____ + ____
4 +6 + 4 +6 = ____ + ____

F 7 +4 + 7 +4 = ____ + ____

1 +3 + 2 +5 = ____ + ____
3 +1 + 5 +2 = ____ + ____ Can you make up a problem

G
that matches?
6 +4 + 1 +9 = ____ + ____
4 +6 + 9 +1 = ____ + ____
3 +8 + 2 +1 = ____ + ____
5 +7 + ___ + ___ = ____ + ____

H
2 +3 + 3 +2 = ____ + ____
4 +6 + 6 +4 = ____ + ____
2 +5 + ___ + ___ = ____ + ____
___ + ___ + ___ + ___ = ____ + ____
 Fruits Facts 3:
Fruits versus Decimals

2 +7 + 3 +1 = ____ + ____
1 +3 + 2 +4 = ____ + ____
3 +5 + ___ + ___ = ____ + ____

27 + 31 = ____
13 + 24 = ____
35 + 32 = ____

1 +8 + 2 +5 = ____ + ____
3 +7 + 1 +4 = ____ + ____

18 + 25 = ____
37 + 14 = ____
 Fruit Pears Pairs
Let's use «5, 9» to mean 5 + 9 . The first number is always the
number of apples, and the second number is always the number of pears.

Can you fill in the blanks in these fruit facts?

«1, 6» + «2, 4» = «3, 10» 1 +6 + 2 +4 = 3 + 10

«1, 6» + «4, 2» = «5, 8»

= 1 +6 + 4 +2 = 5 +8

«7, 9» + «5, 11» = «___, ___» 7 +9 + 5 +11 = ___ + ___

«3, 7» + «10, 5» = «13, ___»

You don't need to draw
«2, 14» + «9, 4» = «11, ___»
apples and pears here,
«12, 10» + «12, 7» = «___, 17»
but you can if you want.
«12, 14» + «18, 30» = «___, ___»

«19, 75» + «12, 8» = «___, ___»

«101, 3» + «30, 73» = «___, ___»

«33, 18» + «12, ___» = «45, 24»

«40, 30» + «___, ___» = «61, 72»

«12, 14» + «___, 8» = «23, ___»

«___, 30» + «18, ___» = «59, 42»

 Arrowbic Exercise
You can add two arrows if one ends where the next starts. The sum is a new
arrow, from the start of the first arrow to the end of the second arrow. One arrow in
each triangle below is the sum of the other two.

16,5
5,3 5,3

11,2 11,2

5,-2 5,-2
11,4 11,4

16,2
1. What do the labels mean? (Hint: try counting lines of the grid.)
2. Add each pair of arrows below, and label all the arrows (the ones you're adding,
and the result).
3. Look for patterns!

A B

C D E
F

G
F
H
 Arrowbic Exercise: Part 2
You can add two arrows if one ends where the next starts. The sum is a new
arrow, from the start of the first arrow to the end of the second arrow. One arrow in
each triangle below is the sum of the other two.

16,5
5,3 5,3

11,2 11,2

5,-2 5,-2
11,4 11,4

16,2
1. Add each pair of arrows below, and label all the arrows (the ones you're adding,
and the result).
2. Add the fruits, and the number pairs.
3. Look for patterns!

D 5 +1 + 3 +4 = ___ + ___
A
7 +2 + 2 +6 = ___ + ___

5 +4 + 5 +1 = ___ + ___

E «5, 1» + «3, 4» = «____, ____»

C «7, 2» + «2, 6» = «____, ____»

«5, 4» + «5, 1» = «____, ____»

«5, 3» + «1, 4» = «____, ____»

PART III: MORE SQUARROWS

Oliver Steele • email: steele@osteele.com • web: http://osteele.com!

 Sparrows (Squarrows with Pairs)

+1 x2
«2, 10» «3, 11» «3,2»

+2
«2, 4» «4, 6» «2, 7» «6, ___»

!2
«2, 4» «4, 8» «5, ___» «15, 6»

!2 !2
«2, 3» «4, 5»

+3 +3

!2 x2

4! +7
«8, 1» «2, 7»

+7 !3 !3

4!
 Squarrow Tails
11
-1
10 ÷2
5 -1
4
÷2

-1
1 2

-1 ÷2 -1
15

÷2

-1

-1 ÷2 -1

÷2

-1
3

-1 ÷2 -1

÷2

-1 -1
÷2
3
 Squircles
Find numbers that make a circle.
Are any of these impossible? Do any have more than one answer?

5 -1
4 +5

+3 ÷2 -10 x2

+1 -10

-9 x3 +10 x2

+10 +3

-10 ÷2 -18 +5