Unit 6B: Spreadsheet modelling Section 5: INTEGRATED TASK
Objectives
Children should learn:
to change the data and formulae in a spreadsheet to answer 'what if ...?' questions and check predictions
Activities
Outcomes
Children:
Ask the children to use a spreadsheet model to find out the maximum area that can be included in a rectangular field of fixed perimeter. Ask them to set up formulae in a spreadsheet and to try whole numbers for one side first. Ask them to look at a graph of the areas to see where the maximum point is.
create and use a spreadsheet to identify an optimum shape
Points to note
Children may guess that the answer is a square, but they should be encouraged to list their predictions using the spreadsheet model.
More able children could be given a perimeter which produces side lengths which are not whole numbers.
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activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by
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