What is Virtual Tiles?

Virtual Tiles is a software program which gives students of all ages a concrete model for operations with integers and polynomials. It is a computerized version of the algebra tiles manipulative used by many teachers. The evaluation of an expression, combining like terms, solving equations, the distributive property, multiplication of polynomials, division of polynomials, and factoring, all have concrete models using tiles which are extremely effective. Virtual Tiles allows a student to construct her/his own meaning for many complicated concepts. Students can then factor expressions with Virtual Tiles that very few students in high school could do using any other technique. This software provides all the benefits of working with algebra tiles or blocks with many significant advantages.

• much faster and precise than moving tiles around by hand
• can automate many of the features (including filling in the gaps with tiles, filling in the guide tiles, labeling the dimensions, shows the equivalence as a multiplication, division or factorization, etc. ), so students can avoid practicing steps they already know how to do well.
• Can use as a symbolic calculator.
• much larger and more complicated examples can be dealt with in this environment than with physical manipulatives since Virtual Tiles are in two variables (x2, y2, xy, x, y, and 1) and there are virtually an unlimited number of expressions. For example, the polynomial 6x2 -2y2 - xy - 4x + 5y - 2 can be easily factored with Virtual Tiles.
• turning over tiles is as simple as a double click of the mouse, so the concept of multiplying by a negative is easily demonstrated.
• classroom management is made simpler. Virtual tiles are automatically distributed to students as soon as they boot-up their computer, cannot be destroyed or lost, and don’t have to be collected afterwards.

Download Virtual Tiles for Mac

Architecture

IBM PowerPC

System Requirements

From Mac OS 8.6 up to Mac OS 9.2

Compatibility notes

Math Trek is compatible with Mac OS 8.6 or later. Virtual Tiles also will run in Classic mode under Mac OS X.  In Classic mode, the screen resolution must be no greater than 800 x 600.

Emulating this? It could probably run under: SheepShaver