Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Translations, Rotations, and Reflections

Coordinate Graphs use ordered pairs to plot different shapes and designs.  One way we use coordinate graphs is to move shapes around to different parts of the graph through translations, rotations, and slides.
This is used in the real world by computer programmers to make models and animations.   

Try your skill at using translations, rotations, and
slides by clicking on this link for a Khan Academy Simulation.  Transformations Computer Practice  

Transformations are a general term that means that things are being moved around in the coordinate graph.  
Here are some terms that you probably know already:  slides, flips, and turns.
  • Slides- when an object is moved without lifting it off the page is a slide.  Another way of saying slide is a translation.  Translations can be found by using an equation like (x + 2, y - 1).  For example, if the original point in an ordered pair (x,y) is (4,1)  then the translation of that point would be (4+2, and 1-1) or  the new point would be at (6,0). 
  • Flips-  another word for a flip is a reflection.  The reflection of the object is when it is "flipped" on the opposite side of the x or y axis.   One way to do the reflection of a shape in an ordered pair (x,y) is to multiply either the x or y by negative 1.   Let's say for instance that we want to flip a point over the x axis. Using point (3, 2) we would multiply the x coordinate 3 by -1.  The new point would be at (-3,2) 
  • Turns-   turning an object around from a center point is yet another way we can move the object.       A Rotation is another name for a turn because there is a center point that remains the same as the shape rotates on 1 point.  Both the size of the figure and the distance between the points remains the same as the figure rotates to different quadrants.                                                                                                                  
Here's a video link that shows how to rotate a quadrilateral 90 degrees and a way to predict where the new points will be on the coordinate graph.  Rotations of 90 Degrees Video

Online Quiz for Transformations: Translations, Reflections, and Rotations.



Friday, November 2, 2012

Electoral Votes and the United States Election

270 electoral votes are needed to win the presidential election.  What are some different ways that the states' electoral votes could be combined to equal the 270 votes?

For example, using the chart of electoral votes by state some of the top states that would sum up to 270 include: California  55, Pennsylvania 20, New York 29, Florida 29, Michigan 16, Texas 38, Illinois 20, North Carolina  15, Georgia 16, Minnesota 10. Washington 12. and Wisconsin 10.  

The map of electoral votes state by state shows who's in the lead in each state going into election week.
What different combinations of electoral votes would give your candidate the 270 votes needed to win?
If you were running for president in which states would you want to spend your resources?

270 votes is what percent of the total 548 votes needed to win the election?