Learning the Equations Behind Pixar Movies. Khan Academy recently hooked up with Pixar Animation studies to create a new (and free) animation curriculum set.
Kids can see how Disney artists use everyday math concepts they learned in school to create movies. Learn all about it in this video … I’m so excited to share this with my daughter Rose, who recently informed me, “Math is boring.” She loves to draw, so I tried to explain how math and art are intertwined. Let’s just say, my explanation failed miserably. Khan Academy explains… Through video lessons, interactive exercises, and hands-on activities, you can learn how Pixar artists use math to solve design problems at each stage of the creative process.
When interacting with the Pixar in a Box curriculum, students will discover some of the equations behind Pixar movies. If the Pixar in a Box curriculum is too far above your kids’ heads, check out this short TED Talk. Unfortunately, at school … math can feel boring. P.S. Pin it for later: What are your kids doing this summer?
Introduction to Algebra. Algebra is great fun - you get to solve puzzles! A Puzzle What is the missing number? OK, the answer is 6, right? Because 6 − 2 = 4. Easy stuff. Well, in Algebra we don't use blank boxes, we use a letter (usually an x or y, but any letter is fine). It is really that simple. And when we solve it we write: Why Use a Letter? So x is simply better than having an empty box. And it doesn't have to be x, it could be y or w ... or any letter or symbol we like. How to Solve Algebra is just like a puzzle where we start with something like "x − 2 = 4" and we want to end up with something like "x = 6".
But instead of saying "obviously x=6", use this neat step-by-step approach: Work out what to remove to get "x = ... " Here is an example: We want to remove the "−2" To remove it, do the opposite, in this case add 2 Do it to both sides Which is ... Solved! Why did we add 2 to both sides? To "keep the balance"... Just remember this: See this in action at the Algebra Balance Animation.
Another Puzzle Solve this one: 101 uses of a quadratic equation. March 2004 It isn't often that a mathematical equation makes the national press, far less popular radio, or most astonishingly of all, is the subject of a debate in the UK parliament.
However, in 2003 the good old quadratic equation, which we all learned about in school, was all of those things. Where we begin It all started at a meeting of the National Union of Teachers. The quadratic equation was held aloft to the nation as an example of the cruel torture inflicted by mathematicians on poor unsuspecting school children. Where would it all end? Maybe so, but it's not really the quadratic equation's fault. The Babylonians Babylonian cuneiform tablets recording the 9 times tables It all started around 3000 BC with the Babylonians.
Let's suppose that you are a Babylonian farmer. Is the length of the side of the field,
Applet. Video. Khan Academy.