A domino is a rectangular block about the size of your thumb with two parts on its face that contain between one and six dots or pips, creating 28 pieces in total that form a set. A set of dominoes can be used for various games by matching their ends together and placing them down in lines or patterns.
The Domino Effect
A domino effect occurs when one event sets off a chain reaction, sometimes good, sometimes bad, that leads to other related incidents and outcomes, often unexpected and with unpredictable outcomes. Although its outcome could be dramatic, its true nature lies elsewhere.
Politics and business often experience this effect where decisions made by individual leaders have unintended repercussions, as was evidenced in the collapse of Savings and Loan Associations that caused more bank failures before leading to federal intervention in the financial sector.
To understand the domino effect, think of an event which seems relatively minor in isolation but has the power to cascade throughout a complex network of relationships, including legal and social ramifications. For example, an employee’s resignation can result in layoffs which negatively affect customers as well as potentially cause other issues, like branch closure.
Similar to how one individual taking up a position in church or political parties can compel others to follow, creating what’s known as a domino effect, which plays a large part in international political dynamics.
The term domino can also refer to an entire region or organization, like Europe or America. According to Victor Cha, America’s approach towards Asia resembles domino theory by “fashioning tight bilateral alliances with East Asian nations in order to maintain control and foster material and political dependency”.
Dominoes can be used for an assortment of projects, ranging from creating 2D structures such as lines and arcs to building 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. Dominoes may also be arranged into pictures, used as puzzles to test problem-solving skills, or simply used for entertainment – making this activity an excellent way to reinforce Mathematical Practice Standard 8.
Playing dominoes involves each player flipping over a tile and placing it along the edge of a table so its matching end faces touch. A square end must always touch another square end; otherwise it is considered loose tile. After stacking all dominoes to reach desired height, they are then stacked one on top of another until your desired height has been reached.
It is crucial that players carefully plan the number of tiles they require in order to create a domino chain, and ensure all tiles are free from dust, smudges and any blemishes before starting this project. Hevesh suggests making test tiles first in order to see whether they fit together before beginning, which enables her to make any adjustments before committing fully and making it easier for students to understand how different shapes can be formed.