CTL7002 – Rachel’s Math Trail

Hi everyone! Welcome to my math trail! 😊 Today I will be taking you through a small area of
my bedroom where you will find colourful and unique pieces that demonstrate different concepts
of math.
From the front door of my house, following the arrows in the map, you will head straight up the
stairs, make a right in the upstairs hallway, and walk to the third door you see on your left!

Once you enter through the door, you would see the layout of the room as follows:
Trail Stop #1
As you enter the door of my room, turn right, and walk over to the bed. You should see a pile of
pillows and blankets at the foot of the bed, with this pillow catching your eye!

Observe the pillow’s pattern and colour

How many different shapes can you see?
How many regular and irregular shapes can you find?
What shapes does the black outline create?
Would you classify the pattern to be symmetrical?
How many repeated patterns are there?
Trail Stop #2
After you are done with the pillow in Trail Stop #1, you should also see this blanket!

Observe the blanket’s pattern and colour

How many pieces are identical and how
many are different?
How many sides are stitched / sown
together and how many are exposed?
What is the probability that you will pick
a square that has red thread? Green
thread?
How does this quilt show you the
intersection between art and math?
Trail Stop #3
Moving on from the bed, you should see a circular reading chair to your left. Once you remove
the cushions and pillows, you will see this fun shape!

What does this spiral remind you of?

How many different triangles do you see with the
back frame of the chair that connects in the centre?
Read about the history of a papasan chair here:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/papasan-
chairs
 How does the papasan chair relate to the
Vietnam War?

Read about the Fibonacci sequence here:

https://science.howstuffworks.com/math-
concepts/fibonacci-nature.htm
 Can you identify the spiraling shell in the
photo? How does the sequence appear in
your daily life?