Activity Detail
If you are using a TI-73, TI-83, TI-84 or TI-89, there may be particular math or science applications you will need to download to use certain activities. If you are using TI-Nspire technology, please update your TI-Nspire handheld operating system or computer software to view the latest activities. The latest TI-Nspire operating system was released in June 2009.
Browse by Subject Submit Activity Saved Activities Advanced Search
  


add to saved activities



print this activity
 
3.14159265...
 


Activity Overview

In this activity, students investigate the circumference of circles and learn about the irrational number Pi.

Before the Activity

  • Start the Geoboard App and format it
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 123 - 129 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the page to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Draw a circle with radius = 1/2 and find its perimeter
  • Draw and measure the diameter of the circle
  • Similarly draw four circles with radii r = 1, 2, 3, and 4
  • Calculate the circumference/diameter ratio and check using the formula in the calculator
  • Observe that the perimeter of the circle is given by 2πr, and the circumference divided by the diameter is always equal to π (3.1416)
  • Set up a scatter plot with the circumference versus diameter data
  • Guess the value of m in the equation for the line Y = mX
  • Graph the predicted value and adjust the value until a line of best fit is obtained
  • Note that Y = 3.1416X

    		After the Activity

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

    		Other Downloads




    view standards alignment
    view textbook alignment

    Subject Area:
    Math : Geometry : Circles

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    5-8

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-73 Explorer™

    Apps:
     

    Software:
     

    Accessories:
     

    Other:
    This is Activity 11 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Shaping Middle Grades Mathematics: Activities for Geoboard and the TI-73



    Report an issue with this activity