Math Made Easy: Understanding conic sections using carrom board

The study of mathematics does not mean cramming formulas or just solving numerous problems. To develop an interest in the subject, understanding the concepts behind mathematical calculations is of foremost importance. This can be achieved through various real-life applications, experiments, and so on. And that’s how teachers at Apeejay are making math classes fun for the students.

To understand 3D geometry, class XI students were introduced to a handmade model in class to show the octants in a 3D plane. “It helped students understand the coordinates in each octant and the basic principles of 3D, said Suman Saluja, a math teacher at Apeejay School, Pitampura. Take a look:

Similarly, students learnt about conic sections like parabolas and ellipses through another activity.

By definition, a parabola is a U-shaped plane curve where any point is at an equal distance from a fixed point, known as focus, and from a straight line known as the directrix. “Students were taught about parabolic curve with the help of a torch. For instance, a parabola can be seen in the headlights of vehicles where the beam of light goes parallel to the axis after passing through the focus,” the teacher explained.

Also Read: Math Made Easy: Finding Fibonacci sequence in flower petals

A parabolic carrom board is another interesting tool to understand the concept better. “A parabolic curve model is made in the form of a carrom board. The striker is hit parallel to the axis of it and after striking the wall it passes through the focus.

A carrom board can also be used to explain an ellipse, a plane curve surrounding two focal points such that for all points on the curve, the sum of the two distances to the focal points is a constant. “The carrom board can be used based on the definition that the sum of the distances of points lying on the circumference of it from the two foci of an ellipse is equal to the length of its major axis. To explain this definition one striker can be kept on one focus we will see after striking from the wall of the ellipse it will go through a second focus,” the teacher said.

Have you tried these?