Activity Detail
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Get to the Point! Coordinate Geometry!
 


Activity Overview

In this activity, students use the Geoboard to determine the area of any polygon using coordinates.

Before the Activity

  • Start the Geoboard App and format it
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 113 - 118 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the page to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Construct a heptagon using the coordinates of its vertices
  • Starting at any point and moving counterclockwise around the polygon, list the vertices in a vertical column in consecutive order
  • Repeat the starting point at the bottom of the list
  • Calculate D, the sum of the down diagonal products, and U, the sum of the up diagonal products
  • Determine the area of the polygon which is one-half of the difference between D and U


  • Construct a square, draw a diagonal, and a line segment that divides the square into four non overlapping regions
  • Find the ratios of the areas of the four regions

    		After the Activity

    		Students complete the Activity sheet and answer questions.

    Review student results:
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary

    		Other Downloads




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    Subject Area:
    Math : Geometry : Polygons

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-73 Explorer™

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 10 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Shaping Middle Grades Mathematics: Activities for Geoboard and the TI-73



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