Activity Overview
Students use the Cabri Geometry II Plus software to solve a geometry problem. They move the vertex point that is common to two right triangles along the base to find the smallest possible sum of the length of the hypotenuse.
Before the Activity
Download the Cabri Geometry™ software on the computer
See the attached FIG file for details of this activity
During the Activity
Follow the Activity procedure:
For each triangle measure the base angle with the common vertex
Drag the common vertex along the base and note where the base angles in both the triangles have the same value
With the vertex at this point, measure the hypotenuse of the two triangles
Sum of the length of the hypotenuse gives the smallest length of pipe required
Verify this value by moving the pump along the river and viewing the total length of the pipes
Change the position of the cottages and repeat the activity
After the Activity
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary