Teaching Algebra with Manipulatives

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Algebra Activity
(Use with Algebra 2, Lesson 11-6)
Investigating Fractal Cut-Outs
Materials
4 sheets of 8.5-by-11 plain paper, cut to measure 8 by 10
ruler
scissors
colored pencils or markers
Collect the Data
Fractals are self-similar shapes in which you can find replicas of an entire
shape or object embedded over and over again in different sizes. Follow
these directions and diagrams to make five fractal cards.
Step 1 Fold one of the 8-by-10 sheets of paper in half. (Figure 1.2)
Measure and make cuts on the fold. (Figure 1.3)
Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2 Figure 1.3
10 in.
fold
2 in. 2 in.
Make
2.5 in.
cuts.
8 in.
Step 2 Fold the cut section up as shown and crease sharply (Figure 2.1)
Then unfold the paper and refold the creases in the opposite
direction. Fold it so a box protrudes as shown in Figure 2.2.
Color the two sides of the protruding box blue. This is Fractal
Card 1.
Figure 2.1 Figure 2.2
fold
Pull box out from
surface of original
paper.
Step 3
Step 4
To make Fractal Card 2, take a second sheet of paper and
make a fractal card identical to Fractal Card 1 by repeating
Steps 1 and 2 above, but do not unfold the paper in Step 2.
With the inner portion folded up as shown, measure and
make two more cuts. Notice that the distance from the edge
to each cut is one-fourth the width of the folded portion and
the cuts are one-half the distance from the fold to the top of
the paper.
1.5 inch long cuts.
1 in.
© Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 286 Teaching Algebra with Manipulatives