Pigs, Pens and Mathematics
Pigs, pens and mathematics is a two to four lesson, tried and proven, activity that moves students from measurement-thinking to functional-thinking with the help a simple but rarely used idea – do not evaluate a calculation.
A small, but authentic and enlightening use of electronic technology is made.
It would fit perfectly in a measurement topic at any of the years 8 to 11.
In this collection of resources you will find:
a) a two-part introductory video, that can be played to the class to kick things off,
b) one support video that shows “how to” do the technical stuff on the CG 20 AU,
c) one support video that explores the mathematical ideas that can be developed with the help of the technology,
d) one ‘task sheet’ for students to work on after watching the videos or being instructed by the teacher,
e) a complete ‘unit of work’ that allows students to consolidate the mathematical ideas and skills they have learned.
Flow – Ideas that underpin Differential Calculus
Presented here is a tried and proven three to five lesson sequence that begins with an engaging real-world context and grows students from the idea of average rate of change to instantaneous rate of change.
It is accessible to any student who has an understanding of average and gradient.
In this collection of resources you will find: a) a three-part introductory video (I, IIa and IIb), which structures the sequence of learning, b) two support video that shows “how to” do the technical stuff on the CG 20 AU.
CG114 Working with angles – converting to and from degrees, mins and secs
This short video shows how to convert angles measured in degrees minutes and seconds to and from angles expressed as decimals using the Run-Matrix app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented.
CGA11 Solving a system of simultaneous equations
This short video shows how to solve a system of linear simultaneous equations using the Equation app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented.
CG223 Fitting a regression model to bivariate data
This short video shows how to generate a regression model of “best fit” for bivariate data via a scatterplot drawn using the Statistics app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented.
CGA31 Solving an equation
This short video shows how to solve ‘any’ equation using the numerical solver in the Equation app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented. Changing the ‘seed’ to obtain an alternative solution, and the graphical representation of multiple solutions, is included.
CGA32 Solving for unknowns in formulae
This short video shows how to find the value of an unknown, via the substitution of known values into a formula and the use of the numerical Solver in the Equation app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented.
CGI11 Fitting a function to a picture
This short video shows you how to fit a quadratic function to a picture of the Sydney Harbour Bridge using the Picture Plot app of a CASIO fx-CG20AU.
CG116 Calculating GCD and LCM
This short video shows how to calculate the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) and Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) of two integers using the Run-Matrix app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented.
CG111 Calculating with fractions
This short video shows how to operate with fractions using the Run.Mat app of a CASIO fx-CG series graphics calculator. CG20 AU and CG50 AU versions presented.