Math Links for Week Ending April 25th, 2014

I love this new activity from Desmos (with the help of Dan Meyer and Christopher Danielson) on rates of increase called Waterline. I recall many years ago creating an activity like this for calculus dealing with rates where we had different profiles of containers and had to predict the rate of water level increase given a constant rate of increase of volume. Back then it was static. Now we have the dynamics of the Desmos engine to make this activity dynamic. In the app you have to predict draw the graph of how you think height will vary and then check it agains what really happens. Nicely done. 

Curriculum Tags: MCV4U

http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2014/waterline-taking-textbooks-out-of-airplane-mode/

In grade 7 this is the last time we formally talk about measuring angles and this activity from Exit 10a is a great way to consolidate that skill with students. I love the game aspect of this activity and if you gave students cards with an angle on each side then you could add a bit of strategy to the game. Thanks to Dan Meyer for this one.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7
http://exit10a.blogspot.ca/2014/04/pie-eating-contest.html



I don't think you can get too elementary when talking about probability in any grade. Conversely, no matter how advanced your course may be in probability, it is good to be able to simplify things for them. To that end, here is a great activity for discussing the difference between experimental and theoretical probability. Thanks to Dan Meyer for this one.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MBF3C, MDM4U
http://accumulatearate.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/try-your-luck/


And yet another Dan Meyer find on probability. This time its probability bingo. Roll two dice (with colours rather than numbers) and the card has all the possible outcomes on it. First one to fill their card wins. Its the perfect game to talk about outcomes, sample space and probability.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MBF3C, MDM4U
http://mathequalslove.blogspot.ca/2014/01/probability-bingo.html






We have all done these types of questions: "you buy a widget that have a regular price of $45 but is on sale for 15% off. How much will you pay for this widget including tax" Boring, right? Instead how about make a game of it, like Fawn Nguyen did with this activity using shopping at Walmart (or any other chain. In the end the students have to get a total value that is closest to $500. Take a look here
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8
http://fawnnguyen.com/2014/04/21/20140408.aspx

Here's a nice proportional reasoning (or possibly linear relationships) 3 Acts task from Tap Into Teen Minds. How many reams of paper does it take to get to the top? Take a look at the task and find out.
Curriculum Tags, Gr7 Gr8, MPM1D, MFM1P
http://tapintoteenminds.com/3act-math/stacking-paper/

Great examples of parabolic motion with these fountains on this video clip. Thanks to Joe Tatti for this one.
Curriculum Tags: MPM2D, MFM2P, MBF3C, MCF3M, MCR3U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrA0bdFZo10