Algebra: Automating Estimate for Walls
Activity Description
This worksheet helps students to write their own algebraic equations to solve a real-world problem.
Storyline:
Students got a new job in a painting company where their job is to estimate the paint needed for painting the walls excluding the door and window areas. The calculations were done manually, but the student is asked to automate this process by finding formulas that can automatically compute the paint needed when the dimensions of the room, doors, and windows are given.
Students will try to understand the relationship between different variables such as width, and height, and write the formula to find the area of a room using these variables. Then they will write formulas to find the total area of windows and doors and finally write another formula to exclude the window and door area. They also are given the opportunity to validate their formula by running test cases against the formula. In the same way, they will write formulas to find the door trim area and door areas.
This is a good algebra refresher activity and at the same time, it is thought-provoking to create fresh formulas.
