Pythagoras' Theorem & Trigonometry

This list supports teaching of perimeter, area and volume in secondary mathematics. It provides investigations, problems and games from NRICH as well as classroom activities on the STEM Learning website that compliment them.

 

 

 

Here are some favourite activities selected by the NRICH team.

  • Tilted Squares  Tilted squares are presented on a dotted grid and the challenge is to calculate the area of the squares.
  • Where to Land A swimmer wishes to get back to their family on the shore. Pythagoras' theorem is used to calculate the optimal combination of swimming and running to determine the quickest time to get back.

These are just a few of the activities on Pythagoras' theorem that you can find on the NRICH curriculum pages.

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The activities below, taken from the STEM Learning website, complement the NRICH activities above.

Focus Year 10/11 Shape and Space Extension

Quality AssuredCategory:MathematicsPublisher:Stanley Thornes

This Century Maths Shape and Space Focus book aims to stretch students understanding of typical key stage 4 topics. Pythagoras' Theorem  and trigonometry topics start on page 15- the resources explores working in 3-D, reflection and rotation symmetries of a cube, coordinates in three dimensions and use of Pythagoras’ Theorem.

Maths Made Magic

Quality AssuredCategory:MathematicsPublisher:Queen Mary University of London

This Maths Magic project is suitable to use as a complement to the NRICH activity 'Tilted Squares'.

The activity uses the Geogebra software and begins with  drawing a circle of radius 5, centred on the origin. The task is to find all the points with integer coordinates which the circle passes through. There are adaptations of the activity by altering the radius of the circle and moving the centre of the circle from the origin.

Task Maths 4

Quality AssuredCategory:MathematicsPublisher:Nelson Thornes

Chapter 10 of the Student book (p11) introduces Pythagoras' Theorem to students using the tilted squares investigation. Students are asked to explore properties of ‘tilted’ squares drawn on dotty squared paper, leading to the use of Pythagoras.

Pythagoras' Theorem

This page- part of the STEM Learning secondary mathematics webpages- contains a range of resources that explore Pythagoras' Theorem.