The document describes an "Algebra Telephone" activity where students get in lines and pass a written mathematical message from person to person by whispering it to the next. The message gets distorted as it moves down the line. Comparing the original and final messages shows how communication breaks down without precise language. The activity illustrates that algebra provides a precise universal language for reasoning and problem solving.

1. Algebra Telephone Activity
1. Ask students if they have ever played telephone, then tell
them that we are going to play Algebra Telephone today.
Get students to form two straight, parallel lines, and 2 feet
apart.
The student at the head of each line gets a ‘mathematical’
message, written in words, on a small piece of paper. They
are told they have to read and memorize what the message.
Once they have committed it to memory, they give the piece
of paper back to the teacher.
They have to whisper the message in the ear of the next
person in the line. This can be repeated once if necessary.
This second person passes it on to the third person and so on.
After one repeat, a student cannot refer back to their source.
The last person in the line gets the message and comes to the
front and tells you the message. Write their response on the
board. They will arrive with ridiculous variants compared to
the actual message.
2. Repeat the whole process with the message written
algebraically and recited from left to right.
3. Discuss the success of the second attempt. Ask them why
they think that you did this activity. Explain how Algebra
is a language! It is precise, universal and not reliant on an
understanding of particular words. This Unit you will be

2. learning a whole new language that will make you think
and reason. So get excited to explore this whole new
language.
MESSAGE 1
A certain number is multiplied by three and then decreased by seven. The
result is two.
MESSAGE 2
3x – 7 = 2
MESSAGE 1
A certain number is multiplied by three and then decreased by seven. The
result is two.
MESSAGE 2
3x – 7 = 2