I would like to know...

[firemeboy]

Hey all. I know this portion of the site is overcrowded but I thought I would try and squeeze a post in here.

I think the education section is a good idea, but I think we can see that there is not a lot of traffic.


However, I have an idea.

[firemeboy]

What is that? You say. You would like to hear my idea? Ok. Here it goes. I have seen many math puzzles on the web. And I have to confess, when I see them, I move on to another puzzle. I am just not good at math, let alone difficult puzzle/Araya math. I am duely impressed by anyone who can understand the posts, let alone actually post there.

But... I would like to learn. This is where my idea comes into play...

[firemeboy]

Sorry, still didn't actually post my idea.

The other day I was out in my newly acquired backyard digging a fire pit. While I was digging, I thought of boiling eggs in dixie cups and I came up with a little riddle that has since been rhymed, posted, and solved. But that is another story.

Upon completeing the pit, I determined to line it with bricks. I decided that I needed to determine the area of the circular pit.

I quickly decided that I had no idea how to determine the area so I would just do what I alsway do, pretend the circle was a square and figure it out for a square. If I had left over bricks, so be it, I could throw them at my neighbors next door (since I do not have stones, nor a glass house).

Time for another post.

[firemeboy]

Ok, this time I will really get to the point. I thought of the GL and was inspired. Heck, my fellow GL members could not only figure out the area of the circle, they could figure out the number of bricks I would need, and how fast I could drop them into the pit even if I was on mars!

I retired to my house and swallowed my pride. I called my little brother still in high school and asked how to figure the area of a circle. He told me, I figured it, and all persons involved rejoiced. Then it hit me. I love puzzles. There was a thrill when I figured it out and bought the correct amount of bricks. The problems with the math puzzles are they are meant for a accomplished mathmatician, and not a semi-moron such as myself. But if there were easier math puzzles, why then I just might be able to slove them, enjoy them, and learn from them.

So, that was my idea, here is my proposal...

[firemeboy]

I propose we use this section for educational purposes. We post simple math puzzles here, not with the intention to just solve them, but to teach whoever is curious about math. We can use formulas, and whatever else we need to learn. I will never remember a formula that someone just tells me, but if I use it in a situation, then chances are much greater.

So I propose that people who are interested in learning more math, pose problems here. The people who are adept at math, could then solve them, and explain how they are solved. I don't want this to be boring for you math whizzes out there, so you could pose simple problems as well and see if your 'students' can solve them. Does this make any sense? Is anybody out there even remotely interested?

If so, here is my first problem:

I have a freshly dug firepit in my back yard. It is 42 inches in diameter (I think I used the term diameter correctly, it is 42 inches across).

a- what is the total area, and
b- it is 10 inches deep (I think a bit deeper but 10 is such a wonderful number to work with). How much of mother earth did I move in digging the hole?

[Ghost Post]

Finally a puzzle I can solve! Plus I considered becoming a math teacher at one point, so this will be fun.

The Area is about 1384.74 square inches.
This comes from the formula for the area of a circle:

Area = Pi * radius^2
Pi is about 3.14 and the radius is half of the diameter.
Area = 3.14 * 21 * 21 = 1384.74

The volume of the hole is 13847.4 cubic inches. The formula for the volume of a cylinder (which is the shape of the hole):

Vol = Area of the base * Height
Vol = 1384.74 * 10 = 13847.4

Is that the sort of response you had in mind?

[This message has been edited by Drew (edited 02-11-2000).]

[Amb]

Why not stick my clock puzzle here. I still reckon that would work nicely in an educational institute!

[Alfie]

I agree!
I am a math freak myself and would love to have a place to learn about strange math concepts.

[firemeboy]

Drew, that is exactly what I was thinking. Short, clear, and to the point. Why don't you post a problem now that might excersise our newly found knowledge. The only thing I want to make sure of (and I really have no say, so this is just a request), is that this dosen't turn into a place to post all of the difficult math puzzles. I think they are best suited in the puzzle section, and the simple puzzles that teach can be posted here. Just my two cents.

Fire

By the Way, I am off for one week to Phoenix so I have not lost interest. I will be back in one week.

[Ghost Post]

Here is another problem that uses the knowledge from above:

You have two cylindrical glasses. One is 4 inches tall and has a diameter of 3 inches. The other is 5 inches tall and has a diameter of 2 inches. Which glass holds more water?

[firemeboy]

Drew,

Sorry, gone for a week. Hope you are still checking in. Here is what I got.

The 3 inch diameter glass holds 28.276 square inches (?) of water while the 2 inch diameter glass holds only 15.707 square inches. Did I get anywhere close?

[Ghost Post]

That looks right to me.

[Dragon Phoenix]

Just a bit of nitpicking, but that should read cubic inches, not square inches.

[firemeboy]

Thanks, I was not sure what to call it.