Illustration

Explanation



Minimax is a program which helps you to understand the effects of large and small digits on the operations addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

A player or team name can be set to appear on the gantry. The user can then choose which operation to use for each game, the size of the numbers involved and whether the target is to make the maximum or minimum possible value.

Having set the options and pressed New Game, the computer presents you with a digit and you have to decide on the best position within your sum to place that digit in order to reach your target of making the maximum or minimum possible total.

When you have filled each of the spaces in the sum you have to type in the answer and the computer checks your calculation. If it is correct you will get a ‘Well Done’ message appear on the screen. if it is incorrect you will get a message encouraging you to try again.



This is the gantry. This displays the name of the program, the name of the player or team and the instructions for what to do next as you play.

The gantry also contains the drop down menu boxes to allow you to select the operator, the number size and the target for your game.

The digits chosen by the computer also appear on the gantry.




This drop-down menu allows you to select the type of operation you will use for your game: addition; subtraction; multiplication or division.


This drop-down menu allows you to select the size of the number you will use for your game: thousands, hundreds, tens and units (THTU); hundreds, tens and units (HTU) or tens and units (TU).



This drop-down menu allows you to select the target for your game: the maximum possible number or the minimum possible number.



This is an example of the randomly generated numbers that will appear during the game. You have to decide on the best place in the sum to put this number in order to reach your target.



This button allows you to set the name of a player or team to play the game. The name entered will be displayed on the gantry.



When you click on ‘Set player name’ this box will open on the screen. You have to click your mouse in the box and type in the name of a player or team. When you click on ‘OK’ the box will close and the name will appear on the gantry.



Clicking this button will cause a new game to appear on the screen. If you click this button while a game is in progress any moves already played will be lost.



Clicking this button will open up a separate Help window on which the instructions for operating the program will appear.



This is where you decide on the best place to play the digit that the computer has chosen in order to reach your target number. To place a digit you click on the position in the sum where you want it to appear.



Once you have placed all the digits, done your calculation and entered your answer, a ‘Well Done’ message will appear if your calculation is correct.



Once you have placed all the digits, done your calculation and entered your answer, this message will appear on the gantry if your calculation is not correct.