Activity Overview
Students find the distance between points using common fractions and decimals, with the concepts of midpoint and distance. They also learn to solve problems using the Pythagorean theorem.
Before the Activity
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 97 - 100 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to the class.
Follow the activity procedures:
Draw a line segment and label three midpoints as described
Use the calculator to determine the measure of each half segment
Plot a trapezoid on a grid paper
Mark and label the midpoints of three sides
Use the midpoint formula to find the midpoint of the fourth side
Use the distance formula to determine the length of the fourth side
Draw a diagonal along a 3" x 5" card, forming two right triangles
Draw an altitude from the right triangle to the hypotenuse of one of the right triangles, forming three triangles
Measure the lengths of the sides of the three triangles and record the values in a table
Compare side lengths and check if they confirm to the Pythagorean theorem
After the Activity
Students complete the Student Activity pages and solve problems.
Review student results
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary