Month:

Is it possible to measure an animal’s behavior?

  • September 9

Animals have a wide varieties of behaviors, many of which can be difficult to analyze. To make animal behavior research easier, scientists use ethograms - tables of possible behaviors that they can check off as the observation goes on. The ethogram used by zoo employees to study their elephants is discussed, and ways of making use of and presenting that data investigated. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2115393. Any opinions, findings... CONTINUE READING

Is there a mathematical pattern to the way that penguins use their nests in South Africa?

  • September 9

The guano that African penguins use as a nesting resource has depleted in recent years; alternate nesting methods, including man-made artificial nests, are being tested out at Dallas Zoo. To track how well these nests work, the amount of eggs laid month by month must be compared to that of natural nests. Analysis of these patterns is valuable information for helping these penguins continue to survive! This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2... CONTINUE READING

Do animals all walk with the same pattern, or are there different walk patterns?

  • September 9

Quadrupeds – animals that walk on four legs – move their limbs in many different patterns as they travel. These walking patterns are known as gaits, and each type of gait can be described mathematically and compared to gain insight into animal locomotion! This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2115393. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily r... CONTINUE READING

How can we estimate the amount of produce in a garden?

  • September 9

In order grow plants efficiently, making certain estimations is valuable - how well plants will grow, how much produce each plant will give use, or, even more fundamentally, how many plants we can fit in a given plot of land. Taking information we know about marigolds as an example, we showcase ways to determine these sorts of important predictions. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2115393. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or re... CONTINUE READING

What geometric patterns can we identify on a leaf?

  • September 9

A mathematical pattern is any sort of repeated property - something occurs frequently in nature! Taking a look at magnolias in particular, we identify branching patterns in leaf veins, and their degree of sub-level repetition. This allows us to understand various geometric concepts. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL 2115393. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s)... CONTINUE READING

What Angles do We Make when We Walk?

  • September 9

This video was features two IF/THEN® ambassadors, Dr. Julie Mirpuri and Dr. Kirsten Tulchin-Francis. Dr. Julie Mirpuri is a Physician Scientist at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Dr. Kirsten Tulchin-Francis is the Director of Movement Science at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Julie and Kirsten answer the questions: What angles do we create walking? How are they important for getting where we need to go? Can you try walking around wi... CONTINUE READING

Recipe Ratios: Which recipe uses more chiles?

  • September 9

When using recipes, determining how much of each ingredient is needed is an important task - particularly if you're making an amount different than what the recipe directly instructs! By looking at two different recipes for salsa, and using ratios and unit conversions to make them more easily comparable, we can begin to determine how much of these wonderful garden ingredients we'd need to use for each dish. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant... CONTINUE READING

What is Symmetry? – Turtle Pond

  • September 9

Can you find symmetry at a Turtle Pond? Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover the hidden symmetry found all around you at NorthPark Center's Turtle Pond. What symmetry do you notice around you? This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here: htt... CONTINUE READING

What is a trapezoid?

  • September 9

Join us on a math walk where we look for geometric shapes at Dallas City Hall. The building reminds us of a triangle embedded in the ground. The result looks like a trapezoid. What is a trapezoid? What other shapes can you recognize in this building? How can we measure the angle made by the building? This video was supported by City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs.... CONTINUE READING