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Activity
Education Development Center

Proof with Parallelogram Vertices

For Teachers 8th - 10th Standards
Geometric figures are perfect to use for proofs. Scholars prove conjectures about whether given points lie on a triangle and about midpoints. They use a provided dialogue among fictional students to frame their responses.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Illustrative Mathematics

Right Triangles Inscribed in Circles I

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
One of the basic properties of inscribed angles gets a triangle proof treatment in a short but detailed exercise. Leading directions take the learner through identifying characteristics of a circle and how they relate to angles and...
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Activity
1
1
Curated OER

Geometry Project

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Proofs are usually an intimidating assignment. An engaging lesson focused on geometric proofs may reduce the anxiety! Pupils choose between several triangle proofs to complete and work on completing them. The assignment also gives a...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
Illustrative Mathematics

Shortest Line Segment from a Point P to a Line L

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
One of the hardest skills for many young geometers to grasp is to move beyond just declaring obvious things true, and really returning to fundamental principles for proof. This brief exercise stretches those proving muscles as the class...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Illustrative Mathematics

Similar Triangles

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Proving triangles are similar is often an exercise in applying one of the many theorems young geometers memorize, like the AA similarity criteria. But proving that the criteria themselves are valid from basic principles is a great...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Illustrative Mathematics

Right Triangles Inscribed in Circles II

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
So many times the characteristics of triangles are presented as a vocabulary-type of activity, but in this activity they are key to unraveling a proof. A unique attack on proving that an inscribed angle that subtends a diameter must be a...
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Activity
Education Development Center

Sum of Rational and Irrational is Irrational

For Teachers 8th - 9th Standards
Sometimes the indirect path is best. Scholars determine whether the sum of a rational number and an irrational number is irrational. Reading a transcript of a conversation between classmates leads to an indirect proof of this concept.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Illustrative Mathematics

Equal Area Triangles on the Same Base II

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A deceptively simple question setup leads to a number of attack methods and a surprisingly sophisticated solution set in this open-ended problem. Young geometers of different strengths can go about defining the solutions graphically,...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
Illustrative Mathematics

Are They Similar?

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Learners separate things that just appear similar from those that are actually similar. A diagram of triangles is given, and then a variety of geometric characteristics changed and the similarity of the triangles analyzed. Because the...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Illustrative Mathematics

Why Does SSS Work?

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
While it may seem incredibly obvious to the geometry student that congruent sides make congruent triangles, the proving of this by definition actually takes a bit of work. This exercise steps the class through this kind of proof by...
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Lesson Plan
Illustrative Mathematics

Joining Two Midpoints of Sides of a Triangle

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Without ever using the actual term, this exercise has the learner develop the key properties of the midsegment of a triangle. This task leads the class to discover a proof of similar triangles using the properties of parallel lines cut...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflections and Equilateral Triangles

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Your learners collaboratively find the lines of symmetry in an equilateral triangle using rigid transformations and symmetry. Through congruence proofs they show that they understand congruence in terms of rigid motions as they prove...
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Activity
Illustrative Mathematics

Points equidistant from two points in the plane

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young geometers apply their deductive reasoning skills and knowledge of proving triangles congruent in a task that asks them to prove if a point lies on the perpendicular bisector of a segment, then it is equidistant from the endpoints...
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Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Sarah Green Probate Record

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The proof is in the probate record. Much can be learned about history by investigating old, primary source documents. Class members hone their detective skills by examing the 1759 probate record of Sarah Green. Who was this lady? Was she...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Determining the Size and Energy of the K-T Asteroid

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Two different groups of scientists published scientific papers in 1980 offering proof of a large asteroid hitting Earth between the Cretaceous and Tertiary layers of ground. Scholars use a worksheet to analyze the same type of data as...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Discovering the Wallace Line

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
When studying locations of specific species, interesting patterns emerge. Young scholars discover this as they plot the location of specific species on a group of islands. Patterns emerge as they identify the Wallace Line. They then...
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Activity
Illustrative Mathematics

Reflections and Isosceles Triangles

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Geometers explore symmetries of isosceles triangles by using rigid transformations of the plane. They complete four tasks, including congruence proofs, which illustrate the relationship between congruence and rigid transformations. The...
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Activity
Illustrative Mathematics

Is This a Parallelogram?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
If both pairs of opposite sides of a quadrilateral are congruent, is the quadrilateral a parallelogram? This task asks learners to determine the answer and to support their answer with a proof. The resource includes a commentary for...
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Activity
1
1
Illustrative Mathematics

Midpoints of the Sides of a Paralellogram

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
This task asks learners to prove that the segment joining the midpoints of two sides of a parallelogram is both congruent and parallel to an adjacent side of the parallelogram. The activity would be good to use in a discussion about how...
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Activity
Illustrative Mathematics

Tangent to a Circle From a Point

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Learners see application of construction techniques in a short but sophisticated problem. Combining the properties of inscribed triangles with tangent lines and radii makes a nice bridge between units, a way of using information about...
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Activity
Noyce Foundation

The Shape of Things

For Students K - 12th Standards
Investigate the attributes of polygons. A thorough set of lessons presents problem scenarios for elementary through high school classes. The first lessons focus on basic characteristics of polygons, including the line of symmetry. As the...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Holding Charge

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Slide paper over a plastic straws to generate static electricity, and then stick that straw to glass, a wall, or even your own hands! This is a science activity that students can use to show parents what they learn in school whenever...
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Activity
Illustrative Mathematics

Global Positioning System II

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Intricate details of a modern technology that many of us take for granted in our phones, computers (and some cars) are laid bare in a short but deeply investigative activity. The math behind a seemingly simple GPS device is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Triangle's Interior Angles

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Given a pair of parallel lines and a triangle in between, geometers prove that the sum of the interior angles is 180 degrees. This quick quest can be used as a pop quiz or exit ticket for your geometry class.

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