Barbara Buchanan (bgbuch@dimacs.rutgers.edu)
Howard Mckenzie (hmckenz@dimacs.rutgers.edu)
Category
Coding
The Problem
Year ...2010
You have learned that intruders from another galaxy are fast approaching the International Space Station with all intention of destroying it. You are in daily contact with your astronaut comrades on the school space station module. You must get a message through, but you are aware that the aliens are intercepting and reading all communications between Earth and ISS. In your latest correspondence with your best friend you discussed the fact that you were both studying linear equations. Suddenly you have an idea --- you will send an encrypted message to your friend using linear equations.
Grade Levels
Grades 7 - 10
Suggested Materials
Card board wheel (included)
Paper
Graph paper
Pencil
Graphing calculator (optional)
Prerequisites
Arithmetic mod 26