Leslie Lewis

Mathematical Art, Web Design, Teaching Mathematics with Art

Wheels of Theodorus

During our study of radical numbers, I showed students how easy it was to draw a line of length √2. In class we used square templates to draw two adjacent sides of a 1 inch by 1 inch square. Then the diagonal of that square, although being a difficult number to write as a decimal, was easily visualized as √2. We spent ½ of a class period using the hypotenuse of a 1 - 1 - √2 triangle and a new 1 inch, right-angled leg, to create a new right triangle adjacent to the first = 1 - √2 - √3 triangle.

After that class period involving drawing adjacent right triangles and using the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the hypotenuses, the Wheel of Theodorus assignment was set as an at-home project.

Kyle created a turkey while incorporating the assigned Wheel of Theodorus.	Mollie made a beautiful Wheel that reminded her of a shell on the beach.
Dan created a hair style when he drew his Wheel. This is his Princess Leah.	John made his wheel into a french horn.
Will made a scary monster snail-thing for his Wheel.	Kristina's involved a tongue and a lolly pop.
Luke's was interesting.	Melanie drew a beach ball in use.
Jessica's sun	Ben created a snail on the beach.