How games secretly use maths

Quick answer

Games use maths in many hidden ways – from counting points and moving on a board, to planning strategies and understanding how likely something is to happen. Whether you're playing a board game, a video game, or just a fun game with friends, you're using maths without even realising it!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how maths is used in games and be able to spot the maths when you play your favourite games.

• You can count points or scores in a game
• You can follow a path or map using directions or coordinates
• You can guess what might happen next using chance or probability
• You can compare your game results with others

Why this matters

Understanding how maths works in games helps you play better and enjoy games more. It also helps you think more clearly, plan ahead, and solve problems. When you know how maths is used in games, you can see how useful maths is in everyday life – not just in school!

How it works

Games use maths in many different ways:

1. Counting points – Games often have scores or points. You need to count them to know who is winning.
2. Following paths or maps – Many games use maps or grids to help you move around. These use coordinates or directions.
3. Using chance or probability – Some games use dice, spinners, or cards. These help decide what happens next, and that uses maths!
4. Comparing results – When you play a game, you often compare your score or performance with others. This is data and statistics!

Examples you can see

Let’s look at some games and how they use maths:

Board games like Snakes and Ladders

When you roll a dice, you move forward a certain number of spaces. That’s counting and addition. If you land on a ladder, you go up – that’s addition again. If you land on a snake, you go down – that’s subtraction.

Video games like Minecraft

When you build something, you use arrays – like 3 blocks in a row, 4 rows. That’s how you make a wall or a tower. You also use coordinates to move around the world – like “go 5 steps east, 3 steps north”.

Card games like Go Fish

You need to count how many cards you have. You also need to recognise patterns – like when you have three cards of the same number, you can ask for the fourth. This uses grouping and probability.

Football or rugby

When you play, you count points – 3 points for a try, 2 points for a goal. You also use timing – when to pass the ball, when to run. You might also guess if you’ll score – that’s probability.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a maths treasure hunt in your game!

1. Choose a game you like – it can be a board game, a video game, or a card game.
2. Play it for 5 minutes and look for maths:
3. 1st time: How many points do you get? What number do you count?
4. 2nd time: How do you move around the board or map? Do you go left, right, up, down?
5. 3rd time: Do you roll dice or spin a spinner? What numbers come up?
6. 4th time: Do you compare scores or performance with someone else? What do you notice?
7. 5th time: What did you learn about maths in this game?

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking that all games use the same maths.

  Why it happens: Some games feel very different, so it's easy to forget that they still use maths.

  Fix: Remember that even games with no numbers still use maths – like planning your moves or deciding what to do next.

• Mistake: Not noticing that counting or moving around a board is using maths.

  Why it happens: It can feel like just fun, not like learning.

  Fix: When you play, ask yourself: "How did I move?" or "How many points did I get?"

• Mistake: Thinking that probability only happens with dice or spinners.

  Why it happens: You might think that only games with random tools use maths of chance.

  Fix: Probability is also used when you guess what might happen next – like if you think you’ll win or lose!

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child understand maths in games is simple and fun!

• Ask questions while they play – like "How many points did you get?" or "What number did you roll?"
• Play a game together and talk about what you see – like how you move on the board or how you count points.
• Encourage them to find the maths in their games – it's a great way to learn!
• Don’t worry if they don’t get it right away – it’s normal to need time to notice these things.
• Use real-life examples to help them – like how you count money or how you plan a trip.

Practice questions

1. What maths do you use when you play a board game?
2. How does a video game use numbers when you build something?
3. What does it mean when a game uses probability?
4. How can you compare your score with your friend’s score?
5. Can you think of a game you’ve played that used maths? What kind of maths?

Answers:

1. You use counting, addition, and subtraction.
2. They use arrays and coordinates to build things.
3. It means guessing what might happen next – like rolling a dice.
4. You can compare by looking at who has more points or better results.
5. Answers will vary – for example, a dice game uses probability, a board game uses counting.

FAQ

What kind of maths is used in games?

Games use many kinds of maths – counting, addition, subtraction, shapes, directions, chance, and comparing results.

Do all games use maths?

Yes, even games with no numbers still use maths – like planning your moves or deciding what to do next.

How can I help my child notice the maths in games?

You can play with them, ask questions, and talk about what they see. For example, "How many steps did you take?" or "What number did you roll?"

Is it okay if my child doesn’t notice the maths at first?

Yes! It takes time to start noticing maths in games. Keep playing and talking about it – it will come naturally!

Can you give an example of how maths is used in a video game?

In Minecraft, you build with blocks arranged in rows and columns – that’s arrays. You also move using coordinates – like “go 5 steps east, 3 steps north”.