Oracle cards

You always hold two fate numbers from 1 to 7. You may only take a card if its rule holds for both numbers together.
Go through the cards one at a time and check each one: work out the sum, or look at the difference.
In some tasks one of your numbers is hidden. Then try the numbers 1 to 7 - only one fits the rule.

Example

661 ♠1 ♠Sum odd2 ♥2 ♥Sum = 73 ♦3 ♦Sum at least11
111 ♠1 ♠Sum = 72 ♥2 ♥Sum at most 53 ♦3 ♦Difference = 2
141 ♠1 ♠Sum odd2 ♥2 ♥Sum = 93 ♦3 ♦Difference = 1
241 ♠1 ♠Sum odd2 ♥2 ♥One is double3 ♦3 ♦Sum at most 5

For parents

What does this exercise practice?

Oracle cards practice checking a condition - sum, difference, odd or even - and then working backwards when a number is missing.

Common pitfalls

A common mistake is stopping at the first card that looks about right. Only the card whose rule really holds for both numbers counts.

How to practice at home

Lay out a pair with two playing cards or dice and take turns inventing rules that hold for it ("the sum is even", "the difference is 2").

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