February 12, 2017 - Math Circle 2.0

Warm-up - Last week's Logic Problem

From http://brainden.com/logic-puzzles.htm

There are three switches downstairs. Each corresponds to one of the three light bulbs in the attic. You can turn the switches on and off and leave them in any position. 

How would you identify which switch corresponds to which light bulb, if you are only allowed one trip upstairs?  Hint:  The lightbulbs generate heat.


Drawing on Graph Paper

Re-affirm degree coordinate system.  

At defined starting point on graph paper, draw lines using the following direction.

90 deg - 10 spaces
0 deg - 10 spaces
270 deg - 10 spaces
180 deg - 10 spaces

where do you end up?

If the square that we built was a house, how would you draw the roof?  Have the kids figure out the degrees in between.

0 deg - 10 spaces (to return to top)
45 deg - 5 spaces
135 deg - 5 spaces

Homework - Calculate the corresponding degrees of the southwest direction and the northwest direction.

Speed for now ... because velocity is a vector

Are we faster than animals?
A tortoise moves less than 1 mph 
A cat can run at 29 mph
A horse can run at 30 mph
A dog can run at 45 mph (Greyhound)
A cheetah can move at 70 mph

How fast can you run?  How can we calculate it?  Hint:  The distance from the steps of Altgeld Hall to the Alma Mater statue is roughly 80 feet.  Using this distance and a stopwatch, the kids ran between 5 mph and 8 mph.