Sparking A Fire With Real Life Mathematical Investigation Lamont Holifield, M. Ed., CICS Ellison Imathination 2012 Math Bash Friday, January 20, 2012
Rationale for this topic: In many schools, we struggle to engage students in the Mathematics Classroom. Many teachers claim that they have made connections to the real-world by ending the lesson listing ways that the math is used in the real-world. The reality is that we must find a way to aid students in learning without realizing they are doing mathematics.
Sparking A Fire
Investigation #1: The People Dilemma It took 6 people 8 days to build a brick wall.The construction crew needs to build an identical wall but need it done faster. If they add two people to the crew, how long will the brick wall take to build now?
Think 1 1 2 3 4 6 8
person: people: people: people: people: people:
48 days 24 days 16 days 12 days 8 days 6 days
Chief Skill: Combination that multiply to total 48.
Investigation #2: The Pay Day Loan Dilemma
“I have a great deal for you. Only 16-2/3 interest every two weeks!”
Have students engage in the calculations.
Quick-Loans at 16.67% Interest Double Every 9 Weeks Week Week Week Week Week Week Week
9: 18: 27: 36: 45: 54: 63:
$200 $400 $800 $1600 $3200 $6400 $12,800
Week Week Week Week Week Week Week
72: 81: 90: 99: 108: 117: 126:
$25,600 $51,200 $102,400 $204,800 $409,600 $819,200 $1,638,400
Week Week Week Week Week Week
135: 144: 153: 162: 171: 180:
$3,276,800 $6,553,600 $13,107,200 $26,214,400 $52,428,800 $104,857, 6000
Week 312: 3,000,000,000,000
Investigation #3: Media and Government Math Mistakes Have Consequences
An article making fun of math mistakes goes on to say: “The formula works for a right triangle not an isosceles.”
“The sum of the squares of the two legs of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the square of the remaining side” – Pythagorean Theorem
Investigation #4: Probability and U
Find the probability of someone snoring.
Solution:
Investigation #5 Algebra and the Birthday Problem Presenter will read the steps. All will follow the steps and be amazed to get their birthdays. Presenter will then guide students in doing the algebra and helps students to create their own mathematical games.
Investigation #6: Test Your Memory Residual Line Activity Statistics and AP Statistics ◦ Prior to creating, have students give you a list of their favorite celebrities (sports, movie stars, politicians) ◦ This activity will allow students to guess the age of those on the list. After which you will provide them with the actual ages. They will compute the residuals and complete an activity which will aid them in understanding the residual plot and line of best fit.
Great Resource For Many Other Activities 25 Real Life Math Investigations That Will Astound Teachers and Students, by Edward Zaccaro
Contact Me: Lamont Holifield CICS-Ellison High School 1817 W. 80th Street Chicago, IL 60620
[email protected] 773-307-0734
Thanks for Your Participation
