Trinca - A Japanese Math Game

Trinca (A Japaneese Math Game)

If you're looking for something more challenging than flash cards to teach your child/children beginning math, this Japanese Math Formula Game just might be a good fit for you.  It is called Trinca which is produced by Gakken.  And, has the name Embrain affiliated with it.

Basically, Trinca helps teach single digit addition/subtraction/multiplication/division in a fun challenging way while introducing the concept of performing those functions with 3 single digit numbers to obtain a given result.  In most cases, doing so repetitively, in a fun manner, helps children learn to do math more quickly.

It is designed for 2-4 players though it is possible for an adult to use it with a single child to help build math skills.

Rules: Since the rule book is in Japanese (which I do not know), I have made up my own rules which are listed below.  You may adapt these to fit your situation.

It has 4 sets of 9 playing chips (plastic cards) and 4 playing holders for those chips.  Each chip has single digit preceeded by a math symbol for add/subtract/multiply/divide.  When a chip is placed in the left most postion of one of the holders, its math operation symbol is covered by the holder resulting in it becoming the start of an equation.

The object of the game is to arrange 4 playing chips in an order to create a valid mathematical equation.  This presents a challenge to a child to force him to think about what order might result in a valid equation.

My game rules (method 1):

1. Sort the playing chips by color then shuffel each set of playing chips.
2. Have each child choose one chip from each set colors
3. The child child then has to arrange those playing chips in the chip holder in an order which creates a valid math equation.
4. Give the child something (ie: paperclip) to keep track of how many valid math equations he/she was able to come up with, or only 1 to first child to come up with a valid equation.  After x times of playing, the child with the most (paperclips) wins the game. 

My game rules (method 2 - may be harder):

1. Keep all playing chips in a single set.
2. Have each child choose 4 chips
3. same as 3 above
4. same as 4 above

My game rules (method 3 - may be more fun):

1. Turn all chips face down and mix them up
2. In turn, have each child draw 1 chip then repeat until all have 3 chips
3. The child to start selects a 4th chip then tries to make a valid math equation.  If he can't, he must discard one of his 4 chips face up on top of a single discard pile.
4. The next child can either selects the discarded chip or takes one from the face down pile to try to make a valid equation.  Play continues in this manner until someone comes up with a valid equation to win that round.

Condition:

• I can not list this game as being new because its seals are broken (it has been opened).  While I'm not positive, I believe it is quite likely unused as its pieces are all in perfect mint condition.