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Project Ideas
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Here are some interesting projects you might enjoy trying as you work through MathLinks 8. Do them alone or in a group.

To do some of these projects, you may wish to use the special paper that has been provided online. Also, there are Web Links to help you access necessary information.


Project Ideas

Representing Data (23.0K)
Number Relations (27.0K)
Pythagorean Relationship (21.0K)
Geometry of Three-Dimensional Figures (28.0K)
Probability (22.0K)
Tessellations (12.0K)


Master Sheets

Master 6 Square Dot Paper (29.0K)
Master 7 Isometric Dot Paper (18.0K)
Master 8 Centimetre Grid Paper (25.0K)
Master 12 Percent Circles (26.0K)



Project Ideas Web Links

Representing Data Project #1 - Creating a circle graph using technology
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Provides templates to create different types of graphs including circle graphs. Provides lots of options. Includes a tutorial.
( http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx )

Representing Data Project #1 - Creating a hand-drawn circle graph
Syracuse University Center for the Support of Teaching and Learning (CSTL)
Provides detailed instructions for constructing a hand-drawn circle graph. Illustrates using percent to create each sector.
( http://cstl.syr.edu/fipse/TabBar/BldCirc/BUILDCIR.HTM )

Representing Data Project #2 - Reading an electric or gas meter

http://www.utilitiesconsumeradvocate.gov.ab.ca/88.html
Government of Alberta
Explains how to read dial electric and gas meters in Alberta. Includes a link to using energy wisely.
( http://www.utilitiesconsumeradvocate.gov.ab.ca/88.html )

http://www.directenergy.com/EN/Texas/RES/Pages/CUS/HowToReadYourMeter.aspx
Direct Energy
Explains how to read a dial electric meter. Includes a link to reducing energy costs.
( http://www.directenergy.com/EN/Texas/RES/Pages/CUS/HowToReadYourMeter.aspx )

http://www.epcor.ca/en-ca/Customers/electricity-customers/MeterReading/Pages/ElectricMeterRead.aspx
EPCOR
Explains how to read different types of digital electric meters.
( http://www.epcor.ca/en-ca/Customers/electricity-customers/MeterReading/Pages/ElectricMeterRead.aspx )

Representing Data Projects #2 and #3 - How to choose which type of graph to use
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Provides a tutorial about which types of graphs to use to display certain types of data.
( http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/help/user_guide/graph/whentouse.asp )

Number Relations Project #1 - The Golden Rectangle
About.com
Provides information about the Golden Rectangle and how to find it based on the golden ratio.
( http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsgoldenrectangle.htm )

Number Relations Project #1 - The Golden Section and the human body
Rasko Jovanovic’s World of Mathematics
Illustrates several examples of the Golden Section in the human body.
( http://milan.milanovic.org/math/english/golden/golden2.html )

Number Relations Project #3 - How to choose which type of graph to use
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Provides a tutorial about which types of graphs to use to display certain types of data.
( http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/help/user_guide/graph/whentouse.asp )

Number Relations Project #3 - Benford’s Law
Millennium Mathematics Project
Discusses the occurrence of digits in lists of naturally occurring numbers. Features Benford’s Law.
( http://plus.maths.org/issue9/features/benford/ )

Number Relations Project #4 - The Swahili clock
MetaFilter Network
Provides background information about the Swahili clock.
( http://www.metafilter.com/69359/The-worlds-first-Swahili-clock )

Pythagorean Relationships Project #3 - Investigating the Pythagorean relationship
Janet Mae Zahumeny
Includes geometry software activities involving shapes other than squares to explore the Pythagorean relationship. Version 3 of The Geometer’s Sketchpad is needed for this activity.
( http://www.wpunj.edu/icip/itm/Lessonpl/sketch/pythag.html )

Three-Dimensional Figures Project #1 - Interactive activity for changing the height and radius of a cylinder
Maris Technologies Ltd.
Provides an applet that allows users to change the height and radius of a cylinder and discover that for minimum surface area with a fixed volume, the height must be double the radius.
( http://www.maris.com/content/applets/math/SodaCanDemo.html )

Three-Dimensional Figures Project #2 - Defines pyramid
Wise Geek
Defines pyramid.
( http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-pyramid.htm )

Three-Dimensional Figures Project #2 - The rhomboidal pyramid called the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur

http://www.pyramidmatrix.com/bent_pyramid.htm
Carl Munck
Provides background information about the rhomboidal pyramid and why it was built using this shape.
( http://www.pyramidmatrix.com/bent_pyramid.htm )

http://www.narmer.pl/pir/snofru_en.htm
Darius Sitek
Scroll down for dimensions of the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur.
( http://www.narmer.pl/pir/snofru_en.htm )

Three-Dimensional Figures Project #3 - Nets of a truncated icosahedron (soccer ball)
G. Korthals Altes
Scroll down for two versions of nets of a soccer ball. The PDF version is better.
( http://www.korthalsaltes.com/football.html )

Three-Dimensional Figures Project #3 - The buckyball and truncated icosahedrons

http://www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/lab/buckyball/index.htm
Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development (SEED)
Provides information about the buckyball. Provides instructions for building a paper model of a truncated icosahedron.
( http://www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/lab/buckyball/index.htm )

http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=217
Karl Harrison
Provides information about a buckyball molecule. Allows users to interact with a 3-D model.
( http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=217 )

http://www.chem.wisc.edu/~newtrad/CurrRef/BDGTopic/BDGtext/bmmbas.html
Malcolm W. Browne New York Times
Provides information about the applications of the buckyball molecule in chemistry.
( http://www.chem.wisc.edu/~newtrad/CurrRef/BDGTopic/BDGtext/bmmbas.html )

Three-Dimensional Figures Project #4 - Photograph of a step pyramid
Official site of Dr. Zahi Hawass
Shows a photo of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara.
( http://www.guardians.net/hawass/Press%20Releases/laser_survey_step_pyramid.htm )

Probability Project #2 - How to choose which type of graph to use
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Provides a tutorial about which types of graphs to use to display certain types of data.
( http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/help/user_guide/graph/whentouse.asp )

Tessellations Project #1 - Picture gallery featuring M. C. Escher’s works
Official Site of M.C. Escher
Provides links to view some of M. C. Escher’s works, including Sky and Water.
( http://www.mcescher.com/Gallery/gallery-switz.htm )

Tessellations Project #2 - Tessellating a plane
The Math Forum: Drexel University
Defines tessellations. Provides ideas on creating shapes that will tessellate the plane.
( http://mathforum.org/sum95/suzanne/whattess.html )


















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