988
/www/nrich/html/content/00/02/penta5/
1
2011-02-01T00:00:01
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0"><br></br>
I have a square table-mat made from rope that spirals from the
centre. It is rather like this one:<br></br>
<br></br>
<br></br>
<div style="text-align: center;"><mdo:image width="280" height="274" alt="" src="RopeMat.jpg"></mdo:image></div>
<br></br>
<br></br>
The mat is a $14$ centimetre square. The rope is $2$ cm wide.
<p>How many centimetres of rope will I need to make another mat
just like it?</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<p>How much rope would I need to make a $12$ cm square, or a $16$
cm square?</p>
<p>Is there a quick way to work this out?</p>
<br></br></mdoxml>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0"><br></br>
<h3>Why do this problem?</h3>
<a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=988&part=index">This problem</a> requires an understanding of length and confidence to use calculations, whether multiplication, division, addition or subtraction. It is a good context in which to highlight how useful it can be to to draw a diagram. It also provides an opportunity for learners to consider the effectiveness of
alternative strategies.<br></br>
<h3>Possible approach</h3>
<div>You could start by showing the group a mat that coils out from the centre, even if it is the more usual circular kind, asking how they think a square mat would be made. You could ask them to imagine a square mat which was quite small, say $6$ cm by $6$ cm, and challenging them to work out how long the rope would need to be. Alternatively/in addition, you could ask what size of mat could be
made from a piece of rope which was $8$ cm long.</div>
<br></br>
<div>Having familiarised the class with the context of the problem, you could invite them to work in pairs on the main task so that they are able to talk through their ideas with a partner. Have plenty of squared paper available ($1$ cm squares would be ideal) but resist forcing pairs to use it! They may come up with alternative ways of representing the problem which will be worth sharing in the
plenary. Mini-whiteboards and/or plain paper would also be useful.</div>
<br></br>
<div>When the initial part of the problem has been done and possible methods of reaching the answer discussed, it could be the right time to look at the final part of the problem. Can learners come up with a quick way to calculate the length of rope needed for any sized square mat?</div>
<br></br>
<h3>Key questions</h3>
<div>Where will the rope coil next?</div>
<div>Can you think of another way of working it out?</div>
<div>Can you see why your calculation works?</div>
<br></br>
<h3>Possible extension</h3>
<div>Learners could not only investigate different sizes of square mat, as in the problem, but also different thicknesses of rope.</div>
<br></br>
<h3>Possible support</h3>
It might be useful to have the final square, $14$ cm sides, already drawn on squared paper ($1$ or $2$ cm squares would be best) for some children to use. They may need to experiment with finding the centre and then the rope can be drawn coiling round from there.<br></br>
<br></br></mdoxml>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0">Use some small grid paper and colour the squares to work out how
the rope fills the space.<br></br></mdoxml>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mdoxml version="1.0"><br></br>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Amber</span> from Annesley
College, Adelaide found it helpful to work with some graph paper to
work out that 98 cm of rope would be needed. <br></br>
<br></br>
<div style="text-align: center;"><mdo:image width="114" height="114" src="Rope%20988.jpg" alt="rope988"></mdo:image></div>
<br></br>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<br></br>
<br></br>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Katrina</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alex</span> from Howe Green House School also
found working with a grid helpful. They said, <br></br>
"Although the mat measures 14cm we would have to divide it into 2cm
squares. The rope would cover 7x7 squares each measuring 2cm. The
rope would therefore have to be 7x7x2cm long which is 98cm. In the
same way a 12cm square would be 6x6x2cm (72cm) and a 16cm square
8x8x2 (132cm)"<br></br></mdoxml>
2
4
0
1
0
0
0
Rope Mat
How many centimetres of rope will I need to make another mat just
like the one I have here?
2D Geometry, Shape and Space
Squares
Measures and Mensuration
Area
Measures and Mensuration
Length/distance
Using, Applying and Reasoning about Mathematics
Generalising