Title
A Two-Minute Thrill Ride (Jill Long)
Goals
1) Students will be able to organize their data in a manner readable to others.
2) Students will be able to work as a group to come up with a group solution.
3) Students will explore the ideas of iteration and recursion.
Abstract
This activity will allow the students to play the role of employees who have been handed a task from their boss. Their solution needs not only be a great one but their methods must be presented in an understandable fashion to their boss. This could very easily be adapted to a problem of the week.
Problem Statement
I am planning on introducing this activity by stating that I finally did go to the new Elitch's this summer. Ask if any of the students have been there. Did you think that the line to the Twister was long? etc. Talk about the fact that you never knew exactly how long the line was because you couldn't ever see where it started.
Instructor Suggestions
1) Introduce with the problem statement.
2) Talk about what the final product should look like. If you were really hired to complete this project, what kind of work would you hand in to your boss.
3) Allow time for the students to work together. If this is a problem of the week, you may still want to let them have a few minutes together to talk about it.
4) Presentations!
Materials
A Two-Minute Thrill Ride handout
Time
introduction (5 min), the students could spend a whole class period or two depending on what type of outcome you're looking for. Typed? Diagrams? etc.
Mathematics Concepts
Discrete Mathematics Concepts
recurrence relationships, finite differences, closed-form solution
Related Mathematics Concepts
patterns, sequences
NCTM Standards Addressed
Problem solving, communication, reasoning, connections, algebra, geometry, discrete mathematics
Colorado Model Content Standards Addressed
Algebraic Techniques (2), Geometric Techniques (4), Problem Solving Techniques (5), Linking Concepts and Procedures (6)
Curriculum Integration
This activity could be integrated into an algebra or geometry class
when studying patterns, finite differences. It also could be used in an advanced algebra class when discussing recurrence relationships.
Further Investigation
Variations/Comments
References/Resources
Algebra 2 and Trigonometry. (1991) McDougall Littell & Company.
Crisler,N., Fisher, P. , & Froelich, G. (1994). Discrete mathematics through applications. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.