Data Investigations: Codemaking and Codebreaking

Abstract:

There are resources for two activities 1. Cryptograms: These puzzles are familiar sayings that have been encrypted. Use letter frequencies, letter patterns and your best analytical skills to decode these familiar puzzles that can be found in many puzzle magazines or online. 2. Crypto-lists: These lists were designed to introduce students to code-breaking. Each list contains words that relate to the topic. Use letter frequency and your best analytical skills to decode these lists. Remember that each list uses a different code to encrypt all of the words in that list. Hint: use tally marks to record frequency of each letter in the coded list, then use letter frequency information to break the code. Each activity includes an answer key.

Subject:

Mathematics and Statistics

Grade Level:

Primary

Collection:

Mathwire