Hands-On Math

University of Massachusetts > STEM > July 2008 Hands-On Math

HANDS-ON MATH | Building Custom Guitars

Whether it's the type of wood, the number of strings or the hundreds of choices in between, the guitar makers at Alembic use precision, care and skillful manipulation of numbers to craft some of the finest guitars in the world.   Go inside the workshop!

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HANDS-ON MATH | Undersea Treasure

Suppose you want to search for the largest sunken gold treasure in U.S. History. Who would you want on your team? Tom Thompson wanted a mathematician who specialized in probability.

Watch the movie and find out why

PROBLEM SOLVING | Mix and Match

This lesson combines a hands-on activity with real world videos featuring a Barbie doll designer and a renowned math teacher from the Bronx to demonstrate a tried-and-true problem-solving strategy-"act it out."

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HANDS-ON MATH | Ice Cream the Italian Way

More ice cream is consumed in July than any other month.  This week treat your summer students to a behind-the-scenes visit to Ciao Bella Gelato Company.  From inventing new flavors to planning ingredients, from the factory floor to the freezer--a lot of math and science goes into this frozen treat.

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ALGEBRA IN THE REAL WORLD | Structural Engineering

A piece of paper can be flimsy or it can support the weight of your hand--it all depends on the shape, explains acclaimed structural engineer, Ysrael Seinuk.  Show your students how shapes and geometry are fundamental to the structure and design of all buildings.  (The movie page also includes algebra activities!)

Check it out!

HANDS-ON MATH | Designing Dolls

A lot of math goes into making the Barbie dolls you see in stores.  The detail of each doll is the result of measurement, patterns and fractions.  In the world of Barbie, an eighth of inch makes a big difference.

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