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© 1998 T
EXAS
I
NSTRUMENTS
I
NCORPORATED
Activity 3
How Do You Measure Up?
Students discover the ratio between their heights and
the lengths of their intestines. This activity is a good
introduction to using lists to find the mean and
performing operations on lists.
Number Sense
♦
ratios
♦
mean
♦
estimation
♦
measurement
Materials
♦
tape measures or rulers for students
to measure their heights
♦
ball of string
♦
scissors
♦
masking tape
♦
TI-73
Setup
♦ Ask students: How long do you think your small
intestine is?
♦ Have each student estimate the length of their
intestine in meters or feet, and then cut a piece of
string this length.
♦ Tape a long strip of masking tape on the floor as the
horizontal axis, and then make a vertical bar graph
using the students’ pieces of strings.
Activity
—
Part A
In this part, students find the average length of their small
intestines. Have students perform the steps unless
otherwise indicated.
➪
You may want to do this
part of the setup in the
hall or some place with a
large area of floor space.