Identifying Pythagorean Triples: Projects for an Algebra
Math Fair
NCTM Conference Presentation Proposal
Speaker:
Hugh McLaughlin, Lawrence High School, Lawrence MA 02420
Description of Proposal:
Pythagorean Triples such as {3,4,5} provide an excellent source of topics
for student projects. The session shows how an investigation from a
professional development seminar Creating triangles with lattice point
vertices and integer side-lengths was used as the kernel for different
student poster projects in algebra classes.
Goals of the Presentation:
- Encourage other teachers to run math fairs in their schools.
- Show how
Hispanic algebra students in an urban high school used algebra,
spreadsheets, and TI-83 Plus calculators to identify Pythagorean triples
-
Illustrate a system for classifying Pythagorean triples by the difference
between length of the hypotenuse and the next largest leg. This allows
students to work on similar but unique and distinct projects.
- Illustrate
how a twice monthly professional development seminar funded by the National
Science Foundation under a grant to FocusonMath.org is impacting the rigor
of mathematics education in an urban high school.
Session Format: One Rich Problem Session, 60 minutes
Topics: Algebra — Algebraic Thinking, Patterns, Functions
