Family Mathematics Problem Solving
Sponsored by
The Somerville Mathematics Fund

The Family Mathematics problems are written for adults and children to work on together. They are not meant as another homework to be turned in to your child’s teacher, instead it is an opportunity for you to work together to solve a mathematical problem. This Month's Family Mathematics Problem is in honor of Pi Day, March 14th. Even if you do not solve the problems below, be sure to wish everyone who is with you that day at 1:59 "Happy Pi Day!î We hope you will enjoy working together to solve these problems. problems.
Enjoy
The Somerville Mathematics Fund was founded in 2000 to celebrate and encourage mathematics achievement in the city of Somerville. We offer scholarships to students and grants to teachers.
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From March 2003    
4th and 5th Grades
6th Grades
7th and 8th Grades


Family Mathematics Problem Solving: 4th and 5th Grades

Hunting for Pi

Ever since the times of the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians and Chinese, people have realized there is a special number that is connected to circles. Even the Bible uses it. This special number is named pi and written œ. This number is related to the circumference and diameter of a circle. The circumference is the distance around a circle, the diameter is the distance across the circle (going through the center).
Look around your home for lots of different circles. For each circle you find, measure the circumference and measure the diameter. Then try (1) adding the circumference and diameter, then (2) try subtracting the diameter from the circumference, then (3) try multiplying the circumference by the diameter, and finally (4) try dividing the circumference by the diameter. Write each of these answers down for each circle. Which of these answers are very close to the same number for each circle?

Family Mathematics Problem Solving: 6th Grade
The Mathematics Club Celebrates Pi Day with Pizza!

The Mathematics Club decided to have a Pizza Pi Day party. They check the menu from "Have It Your Way House of Pizza.î There are ten different toppings listed on the menu. If the Mathematics Club decides to have a different kind of pizza at each of their annual Pi Day celebrations and they agree they will have either one or two toppings, how many years before they will have to repeat the kind of pizza served?
Family Mathematics Problem Solving: 7th and 8th Grades
Oh, the Challenges of Ordering Pizza!

The Mathematics Club will order from the "Have it Your Way House of Pizza." There are both 12 inch and 10 inch diameter pizzas. The 12 inch pizza comes cut in 6 slices. How many slices should they request the 10 inch pizza be cut so that there is almost the same amount of pizza in each slice of the 10 inch pizza as in each slice of the 12 inch pizza?
After taking orders from everyone coming to the Pizza Pi Day Party, they realize they need 28 pieces of cheese pizza and 14 slices of pepperoni pizza. How many cheese pizzas of each size should they order so there will be no slices left over?
How many pepperoni pizzas of each size should they order so there will be no slices left over?
You will need the information from the previous problem to answer this question.




Other Problem Solving Sources:
http://mathforum.org/pow/
http://www.figurethis.org/index40.htm
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