Right or Not?

In class we did a worksheet to determine if triangles created by sheets of graph paper are acute, right, or obtuse. We lined up three sheets of of different sized graph paper to create a triangle. We then collected data on the numbers of squares or area of a each sheet.



We found the sum of the areas of the two smaller sheets. Then labeled the type of triangle it was. I found that if the sum of the areas of the two smaller sheets is equivalent to the area of the largest sheet then it is a right triangle. If the sum of the two smaller sheets is more than the area of the largest sheet then the triangle is acute. And if the sum of the areas of the two smaller sheets is less than the sum of the area of the largest sheet then the triangle is obtuse. This activity demonstrated the Pythagorean theorem which states that A squared+B squared= C squared.


For more information on the Pythagorean theorem check out this video.

Pi! not Pie!

Today in class we did a worksheet on pi. Not the kind you eat (unfortunately ;)) the number kind (3.14). We were given five objects that we had to find the circumference and diameter of. We took a meter stick and a piece of string as tools for measuring. Then we collected our data and wrote it down on our worksheets and found the relationships of the measurements.



Radius is half of the diameter. The circumference is the diameter times pi, or two times pi times the radius. This was a great activity because learning by doing is so much more effective than just memorizing a formula.




Here is a video I found that is helpful when making connections with pi.