Maths of churches, mosques, synagoges and temples

Summary

First videoconference: 26 April, 2007, 10.30am start
Second videoconference: 23 May, 2007, 10.30am start

This conference will consist of two linked videoconferences, with project work to be done between them, and is aimed at 11-14 year-old students.
More information about our conferences

Places of worship can provide us with a rich source of mathematical activity. In this conference, we will look at symmetry, geometrical construction, and patterns described both geometrically and algebraically.

Examples will be shown during the first videoconference, and images for study will be provided on our website, but we hope that schools will combine their project work with one or more visits to local places of worship, so that students can tell us about the maths they have found in their own locality in the second videoconference. This would also link well with the RE curriculum topic on places of worship.

For further information, contact Jenny Gage at jag55@cam.ac.uk. To reserve a place on this conference, go to Get involved! and contact Adrian Cullum-Hanshaw, 01223 764106 or 0774 703 5984, to arrange a videoconferencing connection test.

Schools with a place or on the waiting list

Jenny's presentation for VC1

Project work

• Symbols. Interpreting what we see, finding mathematical ideas
• Project ideas based on circles and circular arcs. Construct a window or an arch, investigate circular designs
• Project ideas based on polygons. Construct a tessellation made up of different polygons, analyse its symmetry, find a formula to predict how many of each shape would be required in a given area ...

Additional material

• Accurate constructions.