Mathematical board game

Abstract

An instructive board game combining solving mathematical questions and making moves on a board in the manner of the well-known game of Tic Tac Toe is disclosed. The board displays mathematical values to be used in an operation in one location, and possible mathematical results in an array at another location. After one player selects a mathematical value, another player selects another mathematical value which will when subjected to the operation, will yield a mathematical result corresponding to a result shown at a desired location on the board. The second player then occupies that location. Players attempt to occupy abutting locations arranged three in a row, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. In one implementation, the game gives players practice in solving quadratic equations.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a board game having board positions presented as occupiable spaces, the method comprising:
 displaying a choice of selectable numeric values;   performing a plurality of reiterative game operations, wherein each individual reiterative game operation of the plurality of reiterative game operations comprises
 having a first player select a first selectable numeric value, 
 having a second player select a second selectable numeric value, 
 performing a mathematical operation utilizing the first selectable numeric value and the second selectable numeric value, 
 displaying a plurality of resulting numeric values each in one of the occupiable spaces, wherein each one of the resulting numeric values is a mathematical result of performing the mathematical operation using a unique two of the selectable numeric values, 
 designating that occupiable space having therein the resulting numeric value particular to the first selectable numeric value and the second selectable numeric value as being occupied by the second player; 
   performing additional ones of the reiterative operations, wherein roles of the first player and the second player are exchanged in each of the additional ones of the reiterative operations, and each of the occupiable spaces occupied by the first player and the second player is maintained as so occupied throughout each one reiterative operation, until one of the first player and the second player has occupied a predetermined array of adjacent occupiable spaces; and   recognizing as a winner of each reiterative game operation that player having occupied the predetermined array of adjacent occupiable spaces, summing the number of occupied predetermined arrays for each of the players, and declaring as a winner of the game that player having the greatest number of occupied predetermined arrays.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one the selectable numeric values and at least one of the resulting numeric values comprise an integer and a symbolic value of indeterminate magnitude. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of performing a mathematical operation utilizing the first selectable numeric value and the second selectable numeric value comprises generating and solving quadratic equations. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined array of adjacent occupied spaces comprises three adjacent spaces of the board game arranged in a straight line. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the three adjacent spaces are arranged serially in a horizontal row of the board game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the three adjacent spaces are arranged serially in a vertical column of the board game. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the three adjacent spaces are arranged serially in a diagonal row of the board game. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of performing additional ones of the reiterative operations comprises alternating respective roles of the first player and the second player in each subsequent iteration of the reiterative operations.