These are really fun! This design could possibly be improved but it does work pretty well. The newest version files are here in AI, SVG and Corel formats. It’s a pretty simple design. Here are the parts. Basically a larger square overhangs the smaller creating a channel with partial cover that the little “cars” can slide in, but not pop
…
The Reuleaux Car The pieces are below, and an AI, SVG, and Corel File are available here. The file has a laser etch on the big wheel to guide the placement of the smaller piece. Glue two small pieces to one side and two large ones on the other side. The wheel holders work by sliding so you can install
…
This one is easy fun and somehow a little bit magical. Makes a great little math gift. The challenge is to make rectangles with pieces #1-5, #1-6, #1-7, and #1-8 (as below) Details, Instructions and Template Here. Here are the “versions” in a short video. These pieces are made in relation to eachother so there are many versions
…
Teachers enjoy models and making and they take that enthusiasm and activity back to their students. Hosted by Professor Jennifer Austin of University of Texas at Austin, this was a particularly fun meeting. We discussed how we make these models – see MAA Horizon Do the Math Article , tried using paper templates and slicing into playdoh. See Take and
…
Turns out you can use CorelDraw to reverse engineer the parts to a conic section model. Read all about it in the November 2021 MAA Math Horizons page called Do The Math (p. 29). Editor Tom Edgar was fun to work with, and made the graphic images. The files are here, please help yourself. We cut ours out of 1/8″
…
Why does this project NEVER turn out? It happens that we have been missing a critical fact. The arm of the linkage is NOT the same length as the radius (k) of the larger reference circle used for the inversion even though we wanted it to be. The workshop is littered with failed tries. The arm length and the sides
…
We had a few slides to introduce MathHappens to the group and then dove right in to a hot topic, redistricting or Gerrymandering. We just had the proposed new Texas map released, but none of the negotiated changes that came the next day on the 14th, so there were real examples of all 4 types of Gerrymandering which are cracking,
…
Plain Platonic Solids are pretty cool – fun shapes, interesting properties from side type: triangle square and pentagons; number of edges; number of faces and more. But they are also plain. Fall intern and UTeach Maker, Maddie Wallace took on the challenge to make some accessories that would create a way we can sort them, and match the objects to
…
Thanks to the the Make: Education Forum for a great conference! From the Q&A: The slides I presented are available here. One book I really recommend, Ernest Irving Freese’s Geometric Transformations by Greg Frederickson. The book has had written plates by an architect that can be recreated in Corel or other graphics software. Some of the designs are great for
…
Happy Homeschool Day at the Austin Zoo! It’s going to be 80 degrees and sunny, a great day for learning outdoors. We will be there featuring our geometry kits. But we are bringing other great projects too with examples with instructions. The event is preregister only, but you can make these great math projects anytime. Template Folder Here. Beside to
…