Solving problems.

GRADE : 9-12

MATERIALS : Bottlenose Dolphins and small fish (which makes up the Dolphin's diet.)

OBJECTIVE : To get students to be comfortable in manipulating data and reason logically,using numbers.

MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS : Ratios, functions and reasoning.

NCTM STANDARDS :
Standard 1 "Math as problem solving"
Standard 3 "Math as reasoning"
Standard 6 "Functions"

PROCEDURE : Give the class this information below.

4 Dolphins are placed in a huge aquarium with 1248 small fish (which makes up the Dolphin's diet.) There is always equal number of male as female fish. Assume Dolphins give birth to only one offspring every 12 months, also, the small fishes give birth to one offspring every 3 months and each Dolphin only eat 46 small fish per week. Then ask the class the following questions below.

How many fish are in the aquarium after 3 months ?

Then give the class 20 minutes to figure out the problem. After, ask the class to tell their answers (if completed ) and explain their way of doing it, and write it on the chalk-board ( or dry-erase board ). Then discuss the different ways the problem can be done. Then give the class the following for homework .

HOMEWORK
How many small fish are in the aquarium after 6 months ?

How many fish are in the aquarium after 12 months ?

REFERENCE : Brochure from Miami Seaquarium.

CONTRIBUTORS : Major : Michael Dixon
Minor : Carol Marinas