Abstract

In this article, a secondary mathematics activity about a piece of sporting equipment, the figure skate blade, is presented. While a figure skate blade appears to be nearly flat, upon closer examination, it is a composition of circles’ sectors. Using geometric and algebraic concepts, participants determined the radius of a figure skate blade. We conducted this activity with undergraduate students enrolled in a course on culturally-based perspectives of mathematics and science, a required course for students planning to become middle and high school teachers certified to teach mathematics and science. The participants used several different geometric ideas and models to solve the key question, and the benefits and drawbacks of these strategies are discussed. Since the activity involves participants’ mathematizing the three-dimensional skate blade, the activity can be classified as a Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA).

Keywords: modeling, geometry, figure skating, education, MEA

How to Cite:

Cheng, D. & Nedwick, R., (2020) “Skating on circles”, Maths and Sports 1(1).