- This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 4 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
What are some creative ways of teaching/explaining this?
-
At the beginning of class on the day we begin the Unit on Circles, I tell my students the true story of “Giotto’s O.” The story basically goes: During the Renaissance period in the early 1300s, the Pope was looking for a painter to paint a new chapel, so he sent his servants to collect a drawing from all the supposed good painters of the time. When the servants arrived at Giotto’s house, they told him of the Pope’s demands and asked for a piece of his work. Giotto took out a blank canvas and in one motion, drew a circle so perfect it looked like it had been drawn by a compass. The servants thought his painting was an insult, but when they showed the Pope the circle and told him the story, the Pope told his servant this was the painter he wanted. (The students usually try and draw their own “perfect circles.” It’s quite funny. Also tell them that there are some absurd YouTube videos out there where these idiots try and draw perfect circles on chalkboards. It’s surprising how many students go home and look it up)
-
There are many theories why there are 360 degrees in a circle. Some possibilities:
-Ancient calendars, such as the Persian calendar, used 360 days. These calendars were sexigesimal (base 60). (This is the one time during math where it is appropriate to use the word “sex”)
-360 is divisible by 24 factors, including every number from 1-10 except 7. These 24 factors can be significant because we divide the world into 24 times zones
-360 is rounded off from 365, the amount of days in a year.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.