Sundae Times

Times tables from ×2 up to ×15

Use your knowledge of times tables to build the tallest, most incredible ice cream sundae possible! Play against the computer or head-to-head versus other students from around the world.

Times tables, Number bonds, Multiplication facts, Mental math

Instructions

Game Goals

In this math game you race against two rival players to build the tallest, most incredible ice cream sundae possible!

The game tests your knowledge of the times tables, challenging you with multiplication problems from the ×2 table right up to the ×15 table.

Each problem answered correctly earns you a fresh scoop of delicious ice cream, but mistakes lose you time – so think carefully, because those precious few seconds could cost you the race!

How To Play

On the main title screen, you can choose to play either Solo or Multiplayer:

• Solo: In this mode you race against two computer rivals. Choose from one of 14 times tables, ranging from the ×2 table up to the ×15 table.
• Multiplayer: In this mode you race online against other students from around the world. Choose from one of two match types, each containing a random mix of multiplication problems. In a Champion Match the problems range from 1 × 1 up to 5 × 10; in an Elite Match the problems ranges from 1 × 1 up to 15 × 15.

Once you’ve made your choices, prepare to race!

Sundae bowls are shown at the bottom of the screen, with your bowl in the middle and those of your rivals to the left and the right.

Multiplication problems appear at the top of the screen. If you answer a problem correctly, you earn a scoop of ice cream and your sundae grows taller. If you answer a problem incorrectly, the scoop falls past your bowl and has to be cleaned up – during this time you cannot answer a new problem, giving your rivals the chance to pull ahead.

Every 8 scoops you pass a ‘?’ icon, which randomly awards you a power-up that can either help you or hinder your rivals. Clever use of power-ups at the right time can mean the difference between winning and losing!

When time runs out, the heights of the sundaes are calculated and then Gold, Silver or Bronze Stars are awarded according to final position, numbers of problems answered correctly, and accuracy.

Game Controls

Use the keyboard to enter your answers. If you prefer you can access an on-screen input by clicking the button in the top-right of the screen. Note that in Full Screen mode, the keyboard is disabled.

When you collect a power-up, activate it by clicking the icon or pressing SPACE. Attack power-ups automatically target your most threatening rival, leaving you free to concentrate on problem solving. Be sure to use power-ups before they disappear off-screen, or you’ll lose them forever!

If a rival targets you with the Squirt-Squirt Cream or Frozen Desserts power-ups, rapidly click the mouse button or tap ENTER to eradicate their effects more quickly.

After each race you are given a rating based on how well you played. Use the performance read-out to spot where your weak spots are so you can do better next time!

Power-Ups

There are 11 power-ups in total. Here’s the lowdown on what they do once activated (by either clicking the icon or pressing SPACE):

Bonus Scoop(s)

Awards you with extra ice cream. There are three varieties of this tasty treat: single scoop, double scoop, and triple scoop.

Chilli Sauce Splat

Squirts blazing hot spicy relish over one of your rivals’ sundaes, robbing them of a precious ice cream scoop.

Extra Helpings

Awards you TWO ice cream scoops for every problem answered correctly. It only lasts for a short time, so make good use of it! Also, this power-up is lost if you enter an incorrect answer.

Frozen Desserts

Freezes rivals’ inputs and prevents them from entering answers. If you fall victim to its chilly grasp, rapidly click the mouse or tap ENTER to shatter the ice more quickly.

Hungry Hound

Unleashes a ravenous sweet-toothed mutt who homes in on the tallest sundae and wolfs down a whole stack of ice cream scoops. Down, boy!

Scooper Stealer

Steals an ice cream scoop from one of your rivals and adds it to the top of your sundae.

Squirt-Squirt Cream

Covers one of your rivals’ inputs in fluffy white cream. If you get attacked by this sticky threat, rapidly click the mouse or tap ENTER to shake off the cream more quickly.

Shield

Protects your sundae from any power-up attack. It only lasts for a short time, so make sure you activate it at the right moment.

Wasp Swarm

Releases a swarm of hungry insects who just love ice cream. As they sweep across the screen, they steal three ice cream scoops from each of your rivals.

Scoring

At the end of each race you are awarded a ‘performance rating’ out of 10. This rating is based on your final position (1st, 2nd or 3rd), the number of problems answered correctly, and your accuracy.

If your rating is high enough you win Gold, Silver or Bronze Stars, which are then converted into points and added to your overall score. This table shows you what you need to achieve to earn each Star type and what they’re worth:

In Solo mode, Stars are ‘one time only’ awards – i.e. if you race the same times table multiple times, you only earn points the first time you get a Star. In addition, if you win a better Star than before, your score is boosted by the points difference only.

EXAMPLE:

You enter Solo mode and play the ×5 table for the very first time. At the end of the race your performance earns you a Bronze Star, so you receive 5 points towards your score.

You race the ×5 table once more, and again you earn a Bronze Star. As you already won a Bronze Star for this times table, your score is not increased.

You race the ×5 table a third time and do much better; this time you earn a Gold Star! Although Gold Stars are worth 50 points you already won 5 points from your Bronze Star, so your score is increased by 45 points.

In Multiplayer mode, you can win points each time you race – assuming your performance is good enough to earn a Star, of course!

As your score increases, so does your Rank. There are 10 different Ranks; what’s the highest Rank you can reach?

Improve your score

Basic Strategies

• Some players find it quicker to use the keypad rather than the keyboard – try both to see which feels more comfortable.
• If a rival hits you with the Squirt-Squirt Cream or Frozen Desserts power-up, as soon as the power-up takes effect start clicking the mouse button or tapping ENTER rapidly.
• If you have an ‘attack’ power-up (Chilli Sauce Splat, Frozen Desserts, Hungry Hound, Scooper Stealer, Squirt-Squirt Cream) and either of your rivals have Shields active, wait until they expire before unleashing it.
• When you’re in the lead, you become a target for everyone! If you have a Shield power-up, wait to activate it until your rivals are just about to collect power-ups of their own – this ensures you get maximum protection from it.
• In Solo mode, there is a maximum limit to how many points you can score. As there are 14 different times tables, the best you can achieve is Gold Stars in each, i.e. 14 × 100 = 1,400 points. If you want to get a high Rank, then Multiplayer is the place to be – each race has the potential to earn you a new Gold Star!

Math Strategies

Swapping numbers around

If you see a times tables question that you find hard, you might find it easier to work out if you think of the two numbers the other way around.

For example: 6 × 2 means "six lots of two" or "2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2". But if you work out 2 × 6 you get the same answer. 2 × 6 means “two lots of six” or “6 + 6”. You might find it easier to work out 6 + 6 = 12

Multiplying by 2

When you multiply a number by 2, it is the same as doubling the number. Sometimes it’s easier to think of doubling a number than timesing it by 2.

For example: if you were working out 4 × 2 or 2 × 4 this would be the same as doubling 4.

When you multiply a number by 2, you might find it easier to work out the answer by adding.

For example: work out 2 × 7. This can be worked out by adding 7 to 7. 7 + 7 = 14

For example: work out 10 × 2. This can be worked out by adding 10 to 10. 10 + 10 = 20

Multiplying by 3

When you multiply a number by 3, you might find it easier to work out the answer by adding.

For example: work out 3 × 5. This can be worked out as 5 + 5 + 5 = 15

For example: work out 10 × 3. This can be worked out as 10 + 10 + 10 = 30

Multiplying by 4

When you multiply a number by 4, it is the same as doubling the number and then doubling again. Sometimes it’s easier to think of doubling a number than timesing it by 4.

For example: if you were working out 4 × 6 this would be the same as doubling 6 and then doubling again. So double 6 to get 12. Then double 12 to get 24. So 4 × 6 = 24

Multiplying by 5

When you multiply a number by 5 you might find it helpful to count quickly in fives.

For example: to work out 3 × 5 you can count in fives to get: 5, 10, 15. So the answer is 15.

Multiplying by 6

When you multiply a number by 6 it can be quite difficult if you don’t know all your six times tables. By remembering that six sixes are thirty six, you can quickly find the other answers in the six times table.

For example: to work out 6 × 7 first remember that 6 × 6 = 36 Now you can work out 6 × 7 by adding another 6 to 36. 36 + 6 = 42 so 6 × 7 = 42

Multiplying by 7

When you multiply a number by 7 it can be quite difficult if you don’t know all your seven times tables. By remembering that seven sevens are forty nine, you can quickly find the other answers in the seven times table.

For example: to work out 8 × 7 first remember that 7 × 7 = 49 Now you can work out 8 × 7 by adding another 7 to 49. 49 + 7 = 56 so 8 × 7 = 56

Multiplying by 9

When you multiplying a number by 9, you can check if your answer is in the nine times table by adding the digits of your answer and making sure you get the result 9.

For example: you think that 5 × 9 = 45 If you add together the 4 and 5 you get 4 + 5 = 9 – your answer is part of the nine times table!