Category Archives: Math Mini Sparks

#7: Mayan Math

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

The Mayans were a classical civilization of Mesoamerica.  Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C.E., they rose to prominence around A.D.E. 250 in present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, western Honduras, El Salvador, and northern Belize.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #7: Mayan Math

2. Mayan Math was the most sophisticated number system ever developed in the Americas.  Astronomers and architects used Mayan Math, but it was also simple enough to be used by uneducated traders and farmers.  Where we use ten different symbols to represent numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0), the Mayans used only three: a dot for a one, a bar for five, and a symbol (usually a shell) for zero. (The Maya were the first civilization to discover and understand the concept of zero.)  The chart below shows the Mayan numbers 1 – 19. Draw this chart on your recording page or use this online tool to practice making the numbers 1-19.

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3.  We use a decimal system, based on the number ten, but the Mayans used a vigesimal system, based on the number twenty. So, where we learn to count on our fingers, Mayan children counted on their fingers and toes. In fact, the number twenty was very important to the Mayans, so much so that the words for “human being” and “twenty” share the same root in most Mayan languages. Record a summary of this information on your recording sheet.
Watch a video about base 20 and how it is used. Record important details on your recording sheet.

4. The Mayans wrote their numbers from top to bottom rather than from left to right, but apart from that, their system was not so different from ours. For example, to write the number 34, we place a three in the tens column and a four in the ones column. The Maya put a one in the twenties column and a fourteen in the ones column. Draw this image on your recording sheet.

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5. Practice making larger numbers at Round 2 at Mayan Math Games. Then you will move to Round 3 at Mayan Math Games where you make numbers in the base 20 system.   If you think you can move to round 3 without starting in round 2 that is ok. Add a note to your recording page about what you learned.

6. Adding in the Mayan system is simply a matter of juggling the dots and bars. To calculate 36 + 13, for example, you start by adding the units (i.e., 16 + 13). This gives you 29, so you leave 9 in the ones column and carry the 20 up, giving you a grand total of 2 twenties and 9 ones = 49.

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Pretty smart, right? Especially, when you consider that the Ancient Egyptians never cracked the concept of zero and that complex calculations with Roman numerals were way too complicated for ordinary Romans. Practice adding in Round 4 at Mayan Math Games.

7.  Optional: If you would like to try subtraction go to Round 5 at Mayan Math Games.

8. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the ancient number systems badge at the EY website

#6: The Mathematical Secrets of Pascal’s Triangle

Math Mini Sparks

Pascal’s Triangle, named after Blaise Pascal, a famous French Mathematician and Philosopher, is more than a triangular shape of numbers.  The patterns found within the triangle are FASCINATING! Investigate some of the treasures found within the triangle in this math mini spark.

1

1     1

1     2     1

1     3     3     1

1     4     6     4     1

1     5     10     10     5     1

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #6: The Mathematical Secrets of Pascal’s Triangle

2. Watch this video about Pascal’s Triangle. On your recording page answer these questions: Describe a pattern you notice within the triangle. What numbers would be in the next row?

 

3. At 1:20 in the video, the Triangular Numbers are highlighted.  The picture below shows the first 5 triangular numbers.  Draw the next 2 triangular numbers on your recording page.

Screen Shot 2015-10-07 at 7.19.52 PM4. At 1:58 in the video, the Pentagonal Numbers are highlighted.  The picture below shows the first 5 pentagonal numbers.  Draw the next 2 pentagonal numbers on your recording page.

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5. Do some more research on Pascal’s Triangle at Math is Fun. Don’t feel like you have to explain everything about the triangle, just pick a couple patterns to highlight on your recording page.

6. This TED Ed Video takes the explanation of Pascal’s Triangle to a higher level, but it’s worth a watch to discover even more patterns within the triangle. Record 5 details from the video on your recording sheet.

7. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#5: Sieve of Eratosthenes

Math Mini Sparks

A sieve is a kitchen utensil that is used to strain solids from liquids or for separating coarser from finer particles.  The Sieve of Eratosthenes is similar because it’s used to separate out all the prime numbers from a given set of numbers.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #5: Sieve of Eratosthenes

2. Listen to the pronunciation  of Eratosthenes several times. Practice saying “Eratosthenes”

3. Learn about Prime Numbers at Math is Fun and then answer these question on your recording page.  What is a prime number anyway?  What is the smallest prime number?  Is 1 prime?  Why or Why not?  Are all odd numbers prime?  How many prime numbers are there between 1 and 100?

4. Watch this video about the Sieve of Eratosthenes.

5. Do this online prime number activity and Add a picture of the finished chart to your recording page. If you would rather use paper, print out this 100 chart and find the prime numbers.

6. Read this article and find out about Eratosthenes.  Consider the following questions as you read and record your responses on your recording sheet.

What were 2 of Eratosthenes’ nicknames and what did they mean?

What is Eratosthenes known for besides the Sieve named after him?

What kind of man was Eratosthenes?

7. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#4: Weird But True! Size

Math Mini Sparks

This math mini spark explores Weird But True! Size Edition.

Spark your math thinking!

  1. Set up your math mini spark recording page:#4: Weird But True! Size
  2. Explore math facts at National Geographic Kids Weird but True! Size Edition.
  3. To move from fact to fact click the arrows.
  4. There are 8 facts in total. Record your favorite four facts on your recording sheet.
  5. Do research about each of the four topics so that you can add 3-5 more details for each one.
  6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#3: Eiffel Tower Math

Math Mini Sparks

The Eiffel Tower is named after a man named Gustave Eiffel, but he didn’t actually create it. Instead, two of his top engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, designed the tower. The names of 72 different artists, engineers, and mathematicians who helped with the design are carved into the tower so that everyone can remember them!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #3: Eiffel Tower Math

2. Read this article about the Eiffel Tower. Record 3 math details about this structure on your recording page.

3. Watch the Geometry of the Eiffel Tower.  Record 3 details from the video on your recording sheet.

4. Answer one of these these questions on your recording page.  Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  • Describe the significance of the Eiffel Tower’s height and how it compares to football fields.
  •  Who was Gustave Eiffel, and what was his profession before designing the Eiffel Tower?
  • Explain what a truss is and how it functions in supporting structures like bridges.
  •  What are the two types of forces mentioned that act on the truss, and how do they differ?
  • What is meant by “static equilibrium,” and why is it important for the stability of a well-designed bridge?

5. Global Math Stories combine math, history, and cultural stories. Check out the information about the Eiffel Tower. Answer 2 of these questions on your math recording page.  Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  1. The tower has 1,665 steps in total. If you were allowed to climb all the way from the bottom to the top, how long do you think it would take you? Explain your reasoning.
  2. Every repainting of the tower requires 50-60 tons of paint. Find the mean and median of the amount of paint that has been used during these applications: 52, 60, 58, 54, 59, 52, 60, 51, and 55 tons.
  3. Imagine the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower are standing side by side with the sun shining on them. The Statue of Liberty is 93 meters tall, and its shadow is 10.7 meters long. If the Eiffel Tower is 330 meters tall, how long will its shadow be?

6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

You can use step 5 as the first story for the Global Math Stories Badge that can be found on the EY badge page.

#2: Graph the Story

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Data visualization is a general term that describes any effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #2: Graph the Story

2. Watch this introduction video.  On your recording page draw a sketch of the graph from the video. Add in these 4 labels on the 4 lines she drew-steep slope, slope, horizontal line, negative slope. 

3. Download and print this sheet. If you would prefer to do the graph digitally you can use this resource.

4.  Start this video and then pause it to get your graph set up to look like the graph in the video.

5. Restart the video and decide where you will need to plot the points.

6. Pause the video and complete the graph.

7. When you have completed the graph, resume the video to see how you did. If you need to make adjustments to your graph do so. If you are doing the activity online, add a picture of your graph to your recording sheet.

8.  Choose 3 more videos to watch, graph, and check. You can make them on paper or use the digital graph maker.

Video choices 

Height of waist off ground 1-The task is to graph the height of the person’s waist off the ground against time.

Air Pressure– The challenge is to graph air pressure against time.

Elevation-The task is to draw a graph of their elevation against time. The graph contains increasing, decreasing, and constant sections.

Distance from home plate-The task is to draw a graph of the player’s distance from the home plate against time. The graph shows linear piecewise sections.

Weight of cups-The task is to graph the weight on the scales against time.

9.  Share your math mini spark recording page and your graphs with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#1: Zenzizenzizenzic

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Wow…that’s a mouthful!  I wonder how many points that would be worth in Scrabble?  Explore the meaning of this bizarre sounding word by completing some Math Minutes this week!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #1: Zenzizenzizenzic

2. Listen to how to pronounce the word Zenzizenzizenzic 5 times. Say it 5 times to practice. Can you say it FAST 5 times?

3. Find out the meaning of zenzizenzizenzic by reading this article.

4. Make a tiny Z math dictionary page.  Your page should have the word and definition for at least ten Z math words. Here are some other ideas of Z math words. You can use these or find your own.

Z-Intercept     Zenith     Zero Divisors    Zero Element    Zero slope  Zodiac  Zone

5. Find out how many points zenzizenzizensic would be worth in Scrabble using this online scrabble calculator. Record the points on your recording sheet.

6.  Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.