Mathematics

Investigation task
(Summative test – Criterion-B, C)
Grade: MYP4 (Standard Math)
Submission date: 26th Mar 2022

Exploration problem
You can use the following for this exploration.

Equipment
• Excel spreadsheets
• Scientific and/or graphing calculator
• Rulers, scissors and pencils
• Graph paper
Please be sure to include any working from the above items in your exploration.
Show your thinking in all questions.

TASK
Part A: Your challenge is to draw a square of 25m2 area.
1. Brainstorm what you know about the properties of a square. There are many
more than you think, so you should research on the internet. Mark them off on
the diagram of the square.

2. What do you know about the area of a square?

3. Accurately draw the square on the grid below. Is this possible? Explain.
4. Show how you determined the dimensions of the square using the grid paper.

5. Use another method to work out the dimensions of the square.

Part B: Your challenge is to draw a square of 10 units2 area.

1. Accurately draw the square. Is this possible?

2. Use any method to determine the dimensions of the square.

3. Can you determine the exact dimensions of the square? Explain your answer.
4. What type of number was introduced in question 3? What properties does this
type of number possess? Can you draw this number?

Part C: Your challenge is to draw a triangle of 10 units2 area.

1 (a) What do you know about the area of a triangle?
(b) Provide a sketch to show how you would calculate the area of a triangle.
(c) What height must one always use when working out the area of a triangle?
2. Accurately draw a triangle that has the area of 10 units2. Is this possible?
Explain in light of your answer in Part B, question 1.
3. Are there different triangles that have this area? Provide as many examples as
you can.
4. Use any method to determine the possible dimensions of the triangle. What do
you notice about the hypotenuse?
5. Determine another way of determining the possible dimensions of the triangle.
6. What do you notice about the type of numbers comprising the possible
dimensions you found? Are they exact?
7. What do we call numbers in question 6?

Part D: Your challenge is to draw triangles with an irrational side.

For example

This is a special triangle. Note: The hypotenuse is an irrational number.

1. Can you draw another special triangle this time with a side of length 3 ?
2. What about one with length 5 ?
3. What about all the other irrational numbers. Share with your peers to see how
many you can get. Try to create a pattern or rule to get the triangles.
4. Are there any irrational numbers that you cannot include here? If not, why not?

Part E: Your challenge is to draw a conclusion based on your exploration.

Provide examples to justify your conclusion.