Post AvejdjchSyRyJ3njV2 by electric_gumball@mastodon.social
(DIR) More posts by electric_gumball@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #AvehR3kV7zaV3KHJAm by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T12:07:36Z
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THIS is why cleaning is so difficult. I bought these blank ruler-sized pieces of wood six years ago. I have an idea for a lesson where students use a compass to create a ruler, including irrational numbers, such as square root of two I should write the lesson up and make the sample ruler **or** throw these away. I will write myself a note about this and put them in the “soon trash” box. I need to be ruthless!
(DIR) Post #AvehpylIo5EypDXGQC by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T12:12:06Z
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In fact I will take these to school and make it THEIR problem. I have a whole box of materials and notes for possible future lessons, and if I put them all in one place I'll be more likely to get them written up and ready to go so other teachers might use them.I've told the other math teachers about how we should do this and they sort of nod along but I suspect they have no idea what I'm talking about. But if I show them a ruler with root two on it it'll be clear enough I think. :)
(DIR) Post #Aveht9wRhICyMpGRdo by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T12:12:40Z
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@BlotchedEmerald Can you use a compass to make a square?
(DIR) Post #Avei3P3UMO9E8YRXHM by electric_gumball@mastodon.social
2025-06-30T12:14:30Z
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@futurebird Or, drill a hole in one end, attach a string & make bullroarers out of them?https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullroarer
(DIR) Post #Avei4fKtJYPkv7BXEW by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T12:14:45Z
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The whole idea of the lesson, which I'm very passionate about is making irrational numbers like root two and root three seem... real. Both as "real numbers" but also as ... real numbers, physical distances that make as much sense as 4 cm or 1/3 of an inch.
(DIR) Post #AveiBiu6RnEq0s1KHw by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T12:16:00Z
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@electric_gumball That's a good idea. I have them make right angles using "the Egyptian method" by tying knots and this would be a nice way to store that device after you make it.
(DIR) Post #Aveiu7sAyUTuC7I9zs by dragonarchitect@rubber.social
2025-06-30T12:24:02Z
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@futurebird YEAH!! YEAH!! THIS IS RADICAL!! There's literally nothing that says we can't put algebraic numbers on a ruler!! 😁Slide rules already do this with e and pi and conversion factors to/from arcminutes and arcseconds!What I'd love to see is a "complex ruler". A combination ruler and protractor that can "measure" a complex number in its polar form (slightly more advanced than studying them in cartesian form, but makes them A LOT easier to conceive as actual numbers imho)
(DIR) Post #AvejdjchSyRyJ3njV2 by electric_gumball@mastodon.social
2025-06-30T12:32:13Z
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@futurebird I'm not helping with the clean up am I? 😃
(DIR) Post #AvejqD1Zykecy4O168 by tofugolem@mastodon.social
2025-06-30T12:34:20Z
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@futurebird I remember arguments from the early days of the Internet when large numbers of people refused to accept that 0.999… is equal to 1.The root of the problem is that for many, infinity is just a reeeeeally big finite number. They do not actually grasp what infinity is, and so to them, if you subtract the two numbers, the result MUST be a non-zero number.I've never been able to think of a way to explain this.Anyway, cool idea with the rulers!
(DIR) Post #Avekxsh3YL6eBQ0csK by baibold@mastodon.social
2025-06-30T12:47:04Z
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@futurebird I too fight this urge to hold onto materials that would be immensely useful for a project that I have a strong vision for.But now I have 20+ unfinished projects and supplies for 20 more. The solution when cleaning has become to ask "Am I honestly going to do this within 6 months," and "If I'm wrong, does it cost more than $50 to replace."If the answer to both questions is no, it goes into a box posted on buynothing labelled "curb alert."
(DIR) Post #AvelLMi87D5vwNi2gy by llewelly@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T12:51:24Z
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@futurebird dinosaurs are planning to rule the world again and I think if you're not using these rulers for anything important, you should donate them to the dinosaur cause.#dinosaurs
(DIR) Post #AvemEfoOncYr6o0y1o by mathcolorstrees@mstdn.social
2025-06-30T13:01:20Z
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@futurebird I love this
(DIR) Post #AvemIpbuJJrsem9dNQ by mathcolorstrees@mstdn.social
2025-06-30T13:02:05Z
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@futurebird I love this. They can also practice geometry as they make it.
(DIR) Post #Aveoifn7dknJdmqldI by lienrag@mastodon.tedomum.net
2025-06-30T13:28:44Z
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@futurebird How can you put an irrational number on a ruler ?I mean, boundaries for the number I get, but the number itself ?
(DIR) Post #AveoqRXAX4Qfjt5pgW by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T13:30:28Z
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@lienrag Make a square that is 1cm by 1cm then use a compass to mark the diagonal on the ruler at root 2cm
(DIR) Post #Avep5ou9vG4iZAB9KS by lienrag@mastodon.tedomum.net
2025-06-30T13:33:11Z
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@futurebird Isn't that luring the kids ?The size of the mark will be the boundaries, but IIRC there's no way to put the exact number on the ruler.
(DIR) Post #Avep97w1cqNKSJd2CO by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T13:33:59Z
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@lienrag Well in that sense you can't make a ruler for ANY number. It's as good as any other mark you might make on the ruler done this way IMO.
(DIR) Post #Avf1tPmym8tSbGEfj6 by llewelly@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T15:56:50Z
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@futurebird I wonder if it would be more effective to get blank 45 45 90 triangles and label the hypotenuse in terms of √2 ? Unfortunately that's probably harder.That said - I think I've seen circle and a matched tape labeled in terms of 𝜋 . A choice of radiant beauty.
(DIR) Post #Avf6rRz294EWb6kxyy by llewelly@sauropods.win
2025-06-30T16:52:00Z
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@riley @futurebird everybody knowsabout Napier's bonesyou could multiplyand you could divideyou could even extractthe square rootsuch sweet sweet necromancybut nobody knows aboutGenaille–Lucas rulerswith which you could savea little addition on the wayat the price of amuch more complicated nameand no allusionto deathand what the dead might say#poetry#math
(DIR) Post #AvzgdzzVsVtfICQ6pU by mina@berlin.social
2025-07-10T15:07:35Z
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@futurebird If you actually manage to throw away these lovely pieces, you will have definitely proved, you have a stronger character than I, who would hardly ever give up on the idea of putting them to good (didactical, in your case) use, eventually.
(DIR) Post #B1EnHB1q6gI0NwioK0 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-12-14T11:23:11Z
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Gosh darn it!I shouldn't have given those blank rulers to the shop teacher... I kind of want them for this week. I have three classes but they've already taken their test for this unit and winter break is coming. So, it's the perfect time to mess around with one of my "experimental" lesson ideas... like the idea of making rulers for irrational numbers. To be fair I have two sections ... and this would have not been enough blanks so, I can't tell myself "I told you so" about cleaning.
(DIR) Post #B1EnYHKxuBQCsDp3IW by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-12-14T11:26:16Z
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@llewelly You know I have these "special triangles" maybe we could make them with cardstock?All of these can be constructed with a compass and then you know sin and cos for these angles... hmm
(DIR) Post #B1EoUHv7tX1lTiOhua by burnitdown@beige.party
2025-12-14T11:36:43Z
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@futurebird it sounds like making a slide rule?
(DIR) Post #B1Er4F3sCXX2wdlDs0 by gbargoud@masto.nyc
2025-12-14T12:05:38Z
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@futurebird Could try doing it on paper or cardstock as a proof of concept