tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post6276291412485426408..comments2023-10-03T04:20:03.184-06:00Comments on Math = Love: The Conic Section Foldable That Wasn'tSarah Carter (@mathequalslove)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-74883524256007787442018-03-27T04:50:50.653-06:002018-03-27T04:50:50.653-06:00Try modelling clay and cut with jewelery wire. I ...Try modelling clay and cut with jewelery wire. I might try the cupcake idea for some fun.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-34116862474514270382017-04-19T10:59:55.962-05:002017-04-19T10:59:55.962-05:00Brilliant! Thanks for sharing! Brilliant! Thanks for sharing! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-58120340784006069032017-01-06T14:33:07.910-06:002017-01-06T14:33:07.910-06:00One of the teachers in my building bakes cupcakes ...One of the teachers in my building bakes cupcakes in those paper cups and has the kids cut those. I'm trying it next week! Also check out the Evil Mad Scientist's Sconic Sections, which is the same idea with a scone recipe instead of a cake mix. http://www.evilmadscientist.com/2013/sconic-sections/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-25213709491801289242016-02-26T17:45:47.271-06:002016-02-26T17:45:47.271-06:00Just saw this post! I tried it with play-doh befor...Just saw this post! I tried it with play-doh before and it was pretty good! You just need a good enough knife so that when you cut, you don't actually squish the dough into another shape..bananohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01256134790022368181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-19472049636626374842015-06-01T18:46:48.408-05:002015-06-01T18:46:48.408-05:00Play-doh is a great idea! Play-doh is a great idea! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-16070782344494570292015-06-01T08:53:33.188-05:002015-06-01T08:53:33.188-05:00I did a similar activity with my students while st...I did a similar activity with my students while student teaching using play dough- it worked well- granted we weren't stamping them so it was alright that each slice didn't come out looking exactly like a circle- just that it was more circle like than ellipse like.Jessica Mayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361252445230673912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-23948651515794797752014-06-17T17:18:13.326-05:002014-06-17T17:18:13.326-05:00I think I'm going to have to try this! Thanks...I think I'm going to have to try this! Thanks for the suggestion! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-65173843511873759812014-06-16T11:19:35.932-05:002014-06-16T11:19:35.932-05:00How about a solid cone made out of play-dough or c...How about a solid cone made out of play-dough or clay? Students could use children's play-dough tools, plastic knives (maybe?!), or very heavy string or wire to cut thin slices?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-71601738736476520882014-04-26T10:36:43.524-05:002014-04-26T10:36:43.524-05:00I think you're probably right. I just can'...I think you're probably right. I just can't figure out how to cut the cone without flattening it... :) Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-30170692822039726382014-04-21T11:16:36.271-05:002014-04-21T11:16:36.271-05:00I think the reason it didn't work is that you ...I think the reason it didn't work is that you flatted the cone before slicing. Then, if you open the cone back up would the cut surface fit "flat" on your desk? If not, then you didn't truly cut across the plane. Just a guess?Amber Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08612898643550109782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-19581403776903519562014-04-15T18:44:18.742-05:002014-04-15T18:44:18.742-05:00You, sir, are brilliant! I'm determined to fi...You, sir, are brilliant! I'm determined to figure this out this summer. And, I can't wait to try some of these ideas. I love the idea of the paper template with the cut line already marked! <br /><br />Thanks, as always, for your insightful comments!Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-30984343671787863432014-04-15T18:42:47.722-05:002014-04-15T18:42:47.722-05:00I thought when I started teaching algebra that the...I thought when I started teaching algebra that there was nothing new to learn. I've been proved wrong so many times! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-65721447672063092892014-04-15T18:33:00.646-05:002014-04-15T18:33:00.646-05:00I remember watching Donald in Mathemagic Land in 9...I remember watching Donald in Mathemagic Land in 9th Grade Geometry! I'm going to have to look it up again. As always, thanks for your helpful comment, Kathryn! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-8450539235988376452014-04-15T18:24:43.227-05:002014-04-15T18:24:43.227-05:00Thanks for the comment! I didn't know how man...Thanks for the comment! I didn't know how many things were influenced by conic sections. This will be great to share with my students next year when they complain about why we have to learn about conics!Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-38897546295430814612014-04-15T18:23:49.898-05:002014-04-15T18:23:49.898-05:00SO glad I'm not the only one! :) I like the ...SO glad I'm not the only one! :) I like the applet! And, I'll definitely check out the flashlight video on youtube. Thanks for sharing! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-72802979425678922702014-04-15T18:23:00.472-05:002014-04-15T18:23:00.472-05:00I like this idea, but I think the janitor might ha...I like this idea, but I think the janitor might hate me. I can see little bits of Styrofoam everywhere! :) I think I'm going to try it this summer to see how it works. Thanks for sharing! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-86379590930669787482014-03-24T08:05:44.175-06:002014-03-24T08:05:44.175-06:00Thanks for your story on conic sections.. I have b...Thanks for your story on conic sections.. I have been an engineer for over 30 years…many kids learn about cones but don’t see how they apply in our world….planetary orbits, satellite motion in the sky, how light beams are designed in car headlights, mirrors and lenses in telescopes and microscopes, how sound travels in water, in air, GPS in our phones. A lot of the point and click functions in our smart phones make use of conic properties. Keep being fascinated about math. Its properties are found in everything we use! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-62960224883750150842014-03-16T20:28:04.251-06:002014-03-16T20:28:04.251-06:00I too tried this activity and failed. This is a pr...I too tried this activity and failed. This is a pretty cool interactive applet and there is even a worksheet that goes with http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=3506 I also saw a video on youtube with a flashlight that was pretty good. Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-2308569194793124582014-03-16T13:47:54.620-06:002014-03-16T13:47:54.620-06:00If you just want the stamp, you could try buying S...If you just want the stamp, you could try buying Styrofoam cones at a craft store and slicing them ahead of time instead of using paper so they can be dipped in the paint. Be careful with the paint though because some types shrink Styrofoam. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-67210961697211064492014-03-13T21:32:33.753-06:002014-03-13T21:32:33.753-06:00I also have been thinking about how to cut the var...I also have been thinking about how to cut the various sections from a paper cone. My idea was to print a paper template, cut it out and roll it up into a cone, then mark the cut lines using a marker. I'd then unroll the cone, cut on my marks, then fasten the cone back together. I figured I'd need a separate set of cones for each of the conic sections, but if the templates were small enough to do 2 cones per sheet...<br />To make marking the cones easier, I thought about using a stack of books on the tabletop as a marker rest while rotating the cone (circle), resting the tip of the cone on another book until the cone side was parallel to the tabletop, then rolling the marker along the table to make the mark (parabola). Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00725419973292498229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-56830183284537194962014-03-13T16:02:51.102-06:002014-03-13T16:02:51.102-06:00Don't feel bad about the conic section realisa...Don't feel bad about the conic section realisation - I never knew that until I started homeschooling my kids. Who knew that they were all about cross-sections? Certainly not me in high school!!Ingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06396226904711922049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-33655824626037369072014-03-12T21:43:56.575-06:002014-03-12T21:43:56.575-06:00Yes, yes, yes. I read one of the posts, bought a ...Yes, yes, yes. I read one of the posts, bought a sleeve or two of the paper cones (they were water cooler cones) at a local store, and came home to try it. I made it through a few cones before I realized how futile the whole exercise was. I know if I can't do something cut/paste/fold related on the very first try, then it's not something I am going to frustrate my students with. <br /><br />You should get a copy of Donald in Mathemagic land. (Yes, it's on YouTube, but the DVD is less than $10 on Amazon- totally worth it.) There's a clip within it about conic sections that shows the cone being dissected. It's an awesome 27 minute math video and despite its age, it's really intriguing for students, especially the billiards scene. Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04301412875277554720noreply@blogger.com