lesson5

Title: Applications of The Pythagorean Theorem

Grade Levels: Grades 7 - 10

Subjects: Mathematics, Language Arts

Learner Outcomes:
1. The student will enter and execute a program on a graphing calculator to find missing values in a Pythagorean Theorem problem.
2. The student will use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve real world problems.
3. The student will draw and label diagrams for problem situations.
4. After completing the mathematical work, the student will state their results in complete sentences.

Duration of Lesson: One fifty-minute class period.

Materials: Pythagorean Theorem program for a graphing calculator (PYTH PROGRAM Worksheet ), graphing calculators, and computers

Technology Tools/Courseware: Internet, graphing calculator manual

Teacher Notes:

Reserve a classroom set of graphing calculators or ask students to have their calculator. If graphing calculators are not available, adapt lesson for using other calculators.
Review the programs for the TI-82 or TI-73 and make any necessary changes for the particular calculator being used.
Assess prior graphing calculator skills.
Schedule the computer lab.

Procedures:
1. Distribute graphing calculators. Ask the students to go to the Geometry Center and select the ways the graphing calculator can be used with the Pythagorean Theorem.
2. Have students place a program using the Pythagorean Theorem on the graphing calculator. There is a TI-82 program on the Internet or enter the TI-73 program from the PYTH PROGRAM Worksheet .
3. Work a few example problems together as a class to practice using the graphing calculator program.
4. Ask the students to complete the problems at Geocities. They will need to show their work and answer the questions using complete sentences for assessment.
5. Have the students customize the problems at the Math Lab and then write their solutions on paper. Assessment will include a final answer in complete sentence form. This online test is also available for evaluation.

Modifications: The teacher should make individual accommodations outlined in Individual Education Plans. Pair students having limited graphing calculator experience with a partner. Give individual attention when needed.

Enrichment Activities:
1. Ask the students to find a model of a rectangular prism (box) and measure the length, width, and height to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. Have them make a sketch of the box on paper and write measures for the dimensions to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the diagonal of each face to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. Draw a diagonal in the interior of the prism. Find the length of this diagonal.
2. Have the students to access Challenge problems and solve numbers six and seven.

Evaluation/Assessment: Evaluate obtaining and using the graphing calculator program by teacher observation. Use a rubric for scoring the Pythagorean Theorem problems.

West Virginia IGOs:
Mathematics: 7.18, 7.23, 7.40, 7.47, 7.49, 8.15, 8.36, 8.54, AM1.7, AM1.10, Al.2, Al.4, Al.21, G.12, and G.24.
Language Arts: 7.57, 8.49, and 9.47.

National Standards:
Mathematics Standards
        Uses a variety of strategies in problem solving process
        Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of geometry
        Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of functions and algebra
Language Arts
        Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process
        Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions.

Workplace process skills: PW.2, PW.8, PW.9, PW.10, PW.27, PW.28, PW.36, PW.44
Job/Career Cluster: Engineering/Technical.

References:
Geometry
Math Forum
Glencoe Algebra 1 Integration, Applications, Connections

Authors: Dianne Smith
               Donna Pittman
               Teresa Lester
               Shady Spring Junior High School

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

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