Lesson 8

Lesson 8: Solving Spatial Problems

 

Focus

 

Moving from one home to another is a complicated process requiring organization and planning. Imagine that you need to move: You need to determine how to get all your stuff from your old location to your new location. Then you have to figure out whether it all fits in your new place. This involves spatial reasoning.

 

Planning for a move might involve estimating how many and what size of boxes you will need to pack up all your belongings. You then have to determine how you are going to get it all there. Will the belongings all fit in the back of a few pick-up trucks? Or will you need to rent a larger moving van? Maybe you decide to hire professional movers with a semi-trailer.

 

Packing requires a clear plan of attack. How can you arrange the boxes and furniture so that you have to do the least number of loads? You also need to take into account the capacity and weight of each box. Your friends will never help you move again if you make the boxes so heavy no one can lift them!

 

Once you get to your new place, the unpacking begins. You have to find places for all your stuff, including your furniture.

 

In this lesson you will use your understanding of scale factor, area, and volume to solve problems involving 2-D objects and 3-D shapes.

 

This lesson will help you answer the following critical question:

• How can the relationships among scale factors, areas, and volumes be used to solve problems?

Assessment

• Lesson 8 Assignment
• Module 6 Project: Part 3

All assessment items you encounter need to be placed in your course folder.

 

Save a copy of the Lesson 8 Assignment to your course folder. You will receive more information about how to complete the assignment later in this lesson.

 

 

In this lesson you will also be directed to work on Part 3 of the Module 6 Project.

 

Materials and Equipment

• calculator
• ruler