Determine quantities and numbers – an issue that is already relevant at primary level. For getting started in determining numbers, one should use regularly arranged objects like windows on a (high-rise) building, paving stones on a sideway or stones at a wall.     

Determine the number of windows on the house

When determining windows on houses, in many cases you can count the number of windows per row and the number of rows and get the result by multiplication. It is important to make clear whether you ask for windows or window panes, and whether all the windows of the building are relevant or, for example, only windows on the southern front.     

Determine number of bricks

For walls and rectangular pavings there are several possibilities:    

1. One determines the number n of the stones per 1m² and projects that to the total area A.     

2. The length and height of the wall are determined in “stone units” and one counts the number of stones in length l and in width b.     

Circular arranged stones with a gap

The level of difficulty increases when deviating from rectangular areas and e.g. asking for circular arranged stones. In addition, it can be difficult to determine the number of objects in which the regularity is interrupted in some places and one is forced to choose special solution methods.

You will find a detailed overview of our generic tasks on Determining quantities in the deposited PDF document.

MathCityMap stands for outdoor mathematics, authentic tasks, physical activity, new technologies and teamwork. And we assert: The combination of these aspects works (almost) everywhere and just like magic …

… because in every city there are stairs, buildings, parking lots, ramps, signs and many other recurring objects where you can  do math actively. These objects offer the chance to easily and quickly transfer existing tasks to other locations. We call these tasks generic tasks. The idea behind is thus a finished question in which only the object is exchanged and the measuring values ​​are collected.

Very frequent generic tasks can already be created using the Task Wizard. This makes it possible to create complete tasks with just a few clicks, because sample solution and hints are generated automatically and inserted by the wizard.

In the following months, we will present a variety of topics from our catalog, which can be realized through generic tasks, e.g. slope, determine and estimate numbers, combinatorics and probability, speed, areas, volume and weight. It is an open and always growing fund. We are therefore pleased about your ideas for generic tasks!