Equipment needed
Card, rulers, compasses, scissors.
Curriculum Topics Covered
Construction with compasses, geometrical reasoning.
More Details
Activities include:
-Explore what 'constant width' means with a simple practical investigation (use Shapes of constant width worksheet, Shapes to cut out printed on card, scissors and scrap card for parallel sides).
-Use geometrical reasoning to prove some shapes based on an equilateral triangle are not of constant width (Shapes of constant width worksheet). Can you now create and construct your own shape based on an equilateral triangle that is a shape of constant width? (Use Triangles for construction sheet).
-Learn how to construct the Reuleaux Triangle and other shapes of constant width including those based around an irregular polygon, and 20p and 50p coins that are both shapes of constant width! (Constructing shapes of constant width sheets).
To find out more about shapes of constant width watch the Numberphile video with Steve Mould featured below, and a video by Steve Mould and Matt Parker on the Maths Gear YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvRQMDUsE3k
A set of four shapes of constant width can be purchased on the Maths Gear website at https://mathsgear.co.uk/collections/shapes/products/shapes-of-constant-width-in-acrylic-set-of-4