Something Fun!!!

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Ferris Wheel

Ferris Wheel
Originally uploaded by tkaminski.

Yet another great picture of circles in real life. I see a radius and a diameter in this ferris wheel. Are there any chords or tangent lines?

Guitar

guitar
Originally uploaded by tkaminski.

I have been really impressed with the real life photos of circles that have been submitted so far. In this photo of a guitar what particular part of a circle do the strings represent?

Circle Geometry Site

So, we have spent the last week investigating circle geometry using Geometer's Sketchpad. We have looked at chords, inscribed and central angles as well as tangent lines.

There is a fellow by the name of Ron Blond (a former Alberta teacher) that has developed a number of very interesting applets to help summarize what we have learned about circle geometry. Check out his site. It will be very useful in helping you quickly review what we have learned.

P.S. Have you made your one page sheet summarizing all of the properties we have learned?? Remember you get to use this on your exam next week. If you have not started this summary sheet you need to have it completed for Monday. It will be very helpful in completing your assignment on Monday.

Cheers!!! Have a great weekend.

Steering Wheel

Steering Wheel
Originally uploaded by tkaminski.

Here is the latest real world picture of a circle. I hope Matt didn't take this picture while he was driving!!!!

Real World Pictures of Circles

Some of you have submitted real world pictures of circles to obtain your bonus mark on your next exam. What about the rest of you?? This is a great opportunity to exert a little bit of effort and impress me!!!! Find those really cool pictures and get them in to me.

Terminology

Today you need to find the definition for a Cyclic Quadrilateral. Our Math Dictionary does not have one. So, head out on to the Web and see what you can find!!

Inscribed and Central Angles

Here we are, the second day of circle geometry. Before we start our Geometer's Sketchpad investigations we need to define some more terms. Please use the Math Dictionary to write definitions in your notes for the following terms:

Inscribed Angle
Central Angle

Sometimes drawing a picture helps make your definition absolutely clear.

Do not forget about the challenge to find pictures of circles in real life and submit them for a bonus mark!!!!!

Daily Math Puzzle

Most of you have probably seen or maybe even try to complete the daily crossword puzzle in the Edmonton Journal. Now, if you are good with words (which are not my strong point) you probably quite enjoy completing crossword puzzles. Since I am good with numbers I prefer number related problems.

Yesterday I was sitting in my backyard enjoying the shade of my favorite tree reading the newspaper. There was an article about a number puzzle called Sudoku. Here is how Sudoku works:

You are given a 9 x 9 grid. The object is to fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. Sounds easy!!!! Well, I thought I would give it a try. I am hooked!!! I can't put down these puzzles until I solve them.

For a more detailed and pictorial explanantion of Sudoku check out this site.
If you get hooked on Sudoku and would like a new puzzle each day visit The Times of London website where they publish a new Sudoku puzzle each day.

Give Sudoku a try. I think you will like it.

Circles: Brondby, Denmark

Brondby, Denmark
Originally uploaded by tkaminski.

Is this a cool picture or what!!!! thanks for sharing this Chad.

Stonehenge

stonehenge.jpg
Originally uploaded by tkaminski.

Here is the first contribution of circles in the real world by one of your classmates. It is an artist's drawing of stonehenge.

Do you see any mathematical symbols in this picture??

Circle Terminology

Big Wheel
Originally uploaded by natalieb.

Before we start using Geometer's Sketchpad to investigate properties of circles we need to define some parts of the circle. Using the Math Dictionary link in our blog define the following terms:

Circle
Radius
Diameter
Chord

Mark sure to write these definitions in your notebook. You may even want to draw a diagram to help illustrate these parts of a circle.


This picture of a bicycle wheel illustrates some of the parts of a circle.

Challenge: The long weekend is before us. Anyone who brings in or e-mails me a picture of a real world example of circles receives a bonus mark on their next exam. Make sure that you can explain to me where this picture was taken, ie. the city or town, the building location etc... Wouldn't it be cool to post these to our blog!!!!!

Circle Geometry

church rosetta window
Originally uploaded by lunaryuna.

Tomorrow we start studying circle geometry. Many students always wonder where in the world circle geometry is ever seen or used. So, here is a Math Trail about circle geometry created by some teachers in Saskatchewan. It does an excellent job of illustating where in the world circles appear and are used.

Enjoy!!!!!

P.S. If you are no sure what a Math Trail is. Check out this video.

Does Blogging work??

It has been a couple of weeks since my last post. Things have gotten busy in the trenches. Even though I have not posted to the blog for 2 weeks not one of my students has complained about this. This really concerns me. I started this blog to help my Pure Math 20 students. I wanted to provide them with additional resources for the course.

If my students are not using my blog should I keep creating it?

Why wouldn't my students want to use these additional resources?

Maybe the content I am providing is of no use to them?

I have many questions that I need to answer for myself and for my students. I guess part of my class on Monday will be to talk to my students about the blog and try to get answers to my questions.

It concerns me that I think blogs are of incredible benefit to my students and they do not. I do not think they realize what they are missing out on if they are not blogging. I have to get them hooked on blogs some how!!!!