Description
- Overview:
- The purpose of this learning video is to show students how to think more freely about math and science problems. Sometimes getting an approximate answer in a much shorter period of time is well worth the time saved. This video explores techniques for making quick, back-of-the-envelope approximations that are not only surprisingly accurate, but are also illuminating for building intuition in understanding science. This video touches upon 10th-grade level Algebra I and first-year high school physics, but the concepts covered (velocity, distance, mass, etc) are basic enough that science-oriented younger students would understand. If desired, teachers may bring in pendula of various lengths, weights to hang, and a stopwatch to measure period. Examples of in- class exercises for between the video segments include: asking students to estimate 29 x 31 without a calculator or paper and pencil; and asking students how close they can get to a black hole without getting sucked in.
- Level:
- High School
- Material Type:
- Lecture
- Author:
- Stephen M. Hou
- Provider:
- MIT
- Provider Set:
- MIT Blossoms
- Date Added:
- 06/02/2015
- License:
-
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
- Language:
- English, Arabic
- Media Format:
- Downloadable docs, Text/HTML, Video
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