How high is the flagpole? This was the question posed to our Year 8 students. They didn’t have a long […]
How high is the flagpole?
This was the question posed to our Year 8 students. They didn’t have a long enough ruler, nor the climbing skills to reach the top, so had to learn about trigonometry first. One unit of study later, and they were ready to head out and make the appropriate measurements. To reduce the effect of error in their measurements, each group recorded measurements from three places around the flag. When they returned to the classroom, they used trigonometry skills to estimate the height of the flagpole. The class then found the average (mean) of all 18 calculations.
The answer? Ask to borrow a trundle wheel and a clinometer next time you see Mr Mooring!