Most of us love manipulating things. Yet, the word manipulate is a rather new one. The first recorded instance of its use was less than 200 years ago, in 1834. It derives ultimately from the Latin manipulus which meant a “full hand” or “handful” … and we certainly like to keep our hands full (or occupied).
This is a wonderful form of play and discovery … not simply arranging shapes, but changing them or arranging/combining them in three dimensions.
The match sticks depicted here have been cleverly manipulated and hint at a relationship. Mathematical relationships are different from the one hinted at here, of course, but I thought the image would present a clever visual pun … that we manipulate objects to discover or show relationships between things!
How can you balance a twenty cent piece on the (vertical) edge of a ten dollar note?
This is not a particularly difficult challenge, but it will give you a 'taste' for manipulation questions.
Carefully examine what you HAVE been asked to do and then examine your assumptions and whether you have been asked explicity NOT to do certain things. Sometimes, we assume that there are more restrictions than there really are!
When you are ready to compare your solution with my one, please click here.
From the beginning of my schooling I had struggled with Mathematics. Highly discouraged by my results, I grew to eventually hate Maths and lost all motivation to improve. Then part way through year seven my parents decided to send me to Crystal Clear Mathematics. Graeme was able to quickly identify areas I needed to improve and explain Maths in a way that finally made sense to me. I was able to understand Maths. This in turn then affected my confidence in my own ability.
Since working with Graeme I have gone from failing to significantly improved results. I now get As & Bs both in examinations and for assignment tasks. Graeme is patient, kind and his tutoring is individualised. He was so helpful and I am grateful for his help.
Tessa M (student, 2014-2017)
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