Math Links for Week Ending Mar 29th, 2013

Here is a super fun activity that puts a gaming spin on drawing circles. Its an
app that asks you to draw as good a circle as you can (with your mouse) and it will then judge how good you are (based on the comparison of perimeter and area). And just to make it even funner, you get a picture of a cat (angry or happy) depending on how well you do.
http://mdbigg.me.uk/maths/circledrawing.html
Curriculum Tags: Gr8, MPM1D, MPM2D, MFM1P

I just can't get enough of the Desmos online graphing calculator. Just found out that they have a great youtube channel (http://www.youtube.com/desmosinc) and a nice Pinterest Page (http://pinterest.com/desmos/). Lots of good stuff here
Curriculum Tags: All







Dan Meyer has a really interesting problem that he asks about regular polygons.

Sure you may be able to draw a regular polygon with 7 sides or 12 sides but what about 3.5 sides? Its a really neat exercise for some deep discussion about geometric principles. It is also pretty cool how his readers came to his aid to produce a variety of dynamic options to look at all the possibilities (even one that uses Desmos)
http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?p=16747
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MPM1D

Here is a tough trig assignment that would be good assessing basic trig functions
http://www.greatmathsteachingideas.com/2012/03/12/trigonometry-pile-up/
Curriculum Tags: MPM2D, MCF3M, MCR3U








I really like this Trig identities activity where students seem to graph different functions but upon actually graphing them they are all the same. Nicely done. Worksheets included.
http://samjshah.com/2013/03/22/dan-meyer-says-jump-and-i-shout-how-high/
Curriculum Tags: MCR3U, MHF4U

Here is an activity about ratios, scale diagrams and proportions that uses a lot of real pictures (and maybe some contrived contexts but they are fun). Worksheets included.
http://mrmillermath.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/investigator-training/
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MPM1D, MFM1P





Here is a cool activity about area of irregular shapes. Students actually measure their
own areas.
http://authenticinquirymaths.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/what-is-my-area.html
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, MFM1P







Interesting article about the math used when running a marathon. Could be used for simple number sense calculations and possibly rates. I know when I am running I am constantly using rates to calculate splits.
http://www.mpnnow.com/blogs/readers_on_the_run_blog/x694781091/Pythagoras-Never-Ran-a-Marathon
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8

Sometimes math can be wielded incorrectly under the guise of expert testimony. That is the premise of a book called Math on Trial. Here are some stories of how math was used incorrectly to convict innocent people. Especially where probability is concerned.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/opinion/when-judges-cant-do-math-justice-suffers.html?_r=0
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MDM4U

Some funny images:
http://photos.ellen.warnerbros.com/gallery-images/2011/12/010212_Unknown.png_full.jpg