Make a triangle, a square and pentagon using the matchsticks and valve tubes.
Make joints-of-two as shown using matchsticks and cycle valve tubes to make the shapes. Make sure the sticks are inserted properly in the tubes to form the joints!
Task 2
Perform these actions (mentioned in the table) on the square. Discuss in your group whether the shape changes or not and note it down.
(Click here to write )
What, according to you, is ‘shape’? What causes a ‘shape’ to change?
Task 3
Try pressing on the opposite vertices of the pentagon. Does it change shape? Now try pressing a vertex and a side of the triangle. Does it change shape?
(Click here to write)
What will happen if you do the same with a hexagon? Which shape does not change when pressed? How might this property be useful to us?
Extension Task 1
Try making as many different shapes as possible by deforming/twisting the pentagon (without breaking it or opening up the joints). In particular, try to make
a triangle that has exactly two sides equal
a four sided polygon
a star shape
Extension Task 2
Try making a triangle in which all three sides are of different length. What would be the minimum number of matchsticks needed for this?
GEOMETRIC REASONING
Exploring Matchstick Shapes
Task 1
Make a triangle, a square and pentagon using the matchsticks and valve tubes.
Make joints-of-two as shown using matchsticks and cycle valve tubes to make the shapes. Make sure the sticks are inserted properly in the tubes to form the joints!
Task 2
Perform these actions (mentioned in the table) on the square. Discuss in your group whether the shape changes or not and note it down.
![enter](/media/7/1/2/3c5e1f84967ec527bd5bebbd2ce3b8208a4a417a1c3c6bb94d2cc0d34130b.svg)
![me_U01L01A01Q2_en_img02](/media/8/8/4/310091c0432b338f8b2f7fffd6889fcc0602c159c6537607efbfa6763f0e2.png)
(Click here to write )
What, according to you, is ‘shape’? What causes a ‘shape’ to change?
Task 3
Try pressing on the opposite vertices of the pentagon. Does it change shape? Now try pressing a vertex and a side of the triangle. Does it change shape?
![enter](/media/7/1/2/3c5e1f84967ec527bd5bebbd2ce3b8208a4a417a1c3c6bb94d2cc0d34130b.svg)
![me_U01L01A01Q03_en_img03](/media/f/d/b/b408c460fecdd992fdff208a1761a3563c7289a0a49660f20496d2cb1e0ee.png)
(Click here to write)
What will happen if you do the same with a hexagon? Which shape does not change when pressed? How might this property be useful to us?
Extension Task 1
Try making as many different shapes as possible by deforming/twisting the pentagon (without breaking it or opening up the joints). In particular, try to make
Extension Task 2
Try making a triangle in which all three sides are of different length. What would be the minimum number of matchsticks needed for this?
(Click here to write)
![enter](/media/7/1/2/3c5e1f84967ec527bd5bebbd2ce3b8208a4a417a1c3c6bb94d2cc0d34130b.svg)