Participants determined their animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac according to the 12-year cycle.
Calendar quirks were used to discuss least common multiples in order to solve a problem of romance.
Biorythym cycles were used to discuss cycles of 23 days, 28 days and 33 days.
Cycles in the units place values of the powers of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,and 9 provided fun exploration.
Nate posed a problem for us to solve for the next meeting:
Many employees receive paychecks every other Friday. Usually February has exactly 2 such paydays. This year, however, February has 3 paydays! When will the next 3-payday-February be? How do you know? Explain convincingly.
Some of the AIMS Standards addressed include:
1.1.4 Determine the equivalency between fractions and decimals in contextual situations.
1.1.6 Determine the least common multiple for two or more whole numbers.
1.2.1 Use grade-level appropriate operations to solve word problems.
1.2.5 Use grade-level appropriate mathematical terminology.
2.3.1 Determine all possible outcomes involving a combination of two or more sets of objects.
5.1.1 Discriminate necessary information from unnecessary information in a grade-level appropriate word problem.
5.2.1 Solve a logic problem using multiple variables.
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| Nate introduced the Chinese Zodiac Problem. |
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| Groups explored number patterns and alternate methods of solution. |
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| Carolyn, Kathleen, and Susin demonstrate that problem-solving in a group is fun. |
