One year later, MathHappens went back to the Neill-Cochran House Museum for Austin Museum Day!
We were stationed at the Pythagorean Tables which are formed around a 3-4-5 triangle. On the 3-table, we had Tic-Tac-Toe; on the 4-table, we had chess/checkers; and on the 5-table we had vanilla and chocolate cupcakes. The cupcakes were used to display how square numbers are sums of consecutive odd numbers.
Using laser cutters, we made Pythagorean Table puzzle souvenirs that visitors could take with them. These puzzles are a great way to understand the Pythagorean Theorem in a geometrical way using area.
David and Audrey were our returning UT Math Department students who did a wonderful job explaining math concepts and engaging with visitors. As always, we thank the Neill-Cochran House Museum for letting us return and we hope to do so again in the future.
To read more about our activities at other locations on Austin Museum Day, please click the following links: