Perfect Squares and Square Roots
Activity: Exponents Chart
This first activity helps to remind students of the important perfect squares and cubes and others. Knowing that these numbers appear regularly is important because it will help them recognize them.
Many adults carry this lack of understanding of "square root" into their adult life. It is a very commonly misunderstood concept.
Listing the important squares, cubes etc.
Many adults carry this lack of understanding of "square root" into their adult life. It is a very commonly misunderstood concept.
Listing the important squares, cubes etc.
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Activity: Visualizing Squares and Square Roots
This activity is a great high-school level problem solving task (even though it seems to be only about squares and square roots).
In order to find as many squares as possible, students will have to use their knowledge of square roots and of Pythagoras' Theorem to draw the proper side lengths.
To implement, have students work in pairs or threes, provide large grid paper, markers, and suggest to them they will be presenting their results to the class later. Follow through and save time for at least three groups of students to present (and justify!) their findings.
After a while, if many students are struggling, you (or a student group) may have to show the class how to build the square that has area 5.
In order to find as many squares as possible, students will have to use their knowledge of square roots and of Pythagoras' Theorem to draw the proper side lengths.
To implement, have students work in pairs or threes, provide large grid paper, markers, and suggest to them they will be presenting their results to the class later. Follow through and save time for at least three groups of students to present (and justify!) their findings.
After a while, if many students are struggling, you (or a student group) may have to show the class how to build the square that has area 5.
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