Lesson 2: Constructing Similar Polygons - Getting Into It

   Getting Into It

Many tasks that were once done "by hand" are now completed with the use of technology. Software programs can assist in many tasks, including creating scale drawings.

Here is what you will need for the following investigation:

online access to the website: http://www.homestyler.com/designer

Task


  1. Go to the website http://www.homestyler.com/designer.
  2. Redesign either a bedroom or living room that is relatively the same size as the one in your current home.

Things to keep in mind when designing:

  • Set your outer walls first. The dimensions of the outer walls should match the dimensions of the chosen room in your home.
  • Include an entry into the room (most bedrooms have doors that swing inward).
  • Place a minimum of 5 pieces of furniture in the space.

Once you are finished designing:

Use the zoom tool to make your design larger and smaller.

By doing this, you are creating enlargements and reductions of not only the room, but all the items in the room. Notice that as you zoom in, the room gets larger, as do all the items. More importantly, the sizes change in a proportionate manner. Using the zoom tool requires the website's software to do the math necessary to create scale drawings using different scales. Doing this manually would take more time because of the math and drawing required.

You will now learn to construct proportional drawings of similar polygons "by hand".


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