Match-Up Math

 

 

In Match-Up Math, children must match tiles with equal values in order to make them disappear. For example, 2+2 can be matched with a tile that says 4 or one that says 3+1.

When all the tiles are cleared, the player moves on to the next level. The difficulty increases as the player progresses and the backgrounds of the boards change, which gives the player a nice sense of progression. Someone in iTunes described it as "Mahjong Math." (I've never played Mahjong.)

The game can be played using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percents and decimals, as well as levels that mix more than one type of math. There are also three skill level with the easy level providing hints. With the different maths available at varying skill levels, the app is very good at covering skill levels, which some apps have a lot of trouble with.

I like Match-Up Math well enough, but there are several places for improvement. 

First, it keeps score, but the scores aren't saved so there is no "best score to beat" or "top level reached" as there is in NxtApp for Kids. When I play NxtApp with my kids, I start by saying "OK, your best time is...can you beat that?"

Second, the price is a tad high with some of the best math apps, like Math Bingo and World of Safari 123, selling for 99 cents.

It's a well-done and unique game for mental math, however, so I definitely recommend at least trying the lite/free version to see if it clicks with your child enough to pay for the full version.