First Math

Steve Hamilton

This math game for children features graphics, color, and sound. In addition to displaying the correct answer after a child has entered an incorrect one, there's a small fanfare for ten consecutive correct answers. Versions for VIC, 64, TI, Radio Shack Color Computer, and Apple.

I was introduced to home computing last May when I bought the VIC-20. I got one partly for my two boys, so they would grow up with some knowledge about a computer. Since the older boy was just approaching kindergarten, I thought it would be at least a year or so before he would be ready to operate the VIC. He was ready long before I had anticipated.

The following is a simple math exercise that I developed for him. In this program, the user is given a choice of exercises: addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. Then, a choice of upper and lower limits is specified for each of the two numbers in each question. Since the computer will generate random numbers, the parameters you choose will become the limits for each number pair. This is how you can adjust the difficulty level.