Education Technology

Mathematics lessons for IB® Diploma Programme

Applications and Interpretation | Geometry and Trigonometry

Biorhythms

Activity Overview

Students use their own birthday, and the current date, to determine the equation for their physical, emotional and intellectual cycles according to the study of biorhythms. Whilst the study of biorhythms is generally completed with Astrology – “a self-fulfilling prophetic vagueness” and “Where to find the Pixies, Gnomes and Fairies in your Garden”, the mathematics is applicable and the subject matter provides a level of tongue in cheek engagement and entertainment. Students use some of the less frequently used commands on the calculator such as DBD (days between dates) and MOD (modular arithmetic).

Objectives

Recognise the graph of y = sin(x) and examine phase and period changes pertaining to the context of biorhythms.

Vocabulary

  • Period
  • dilation
  • Transformation