On March 5, our Upper School students, along with twelve teachers, traveled to New York for the inaugural math field experience to the recently opened National Museum of Mathematics. One of the most popular exhibits is the Square-Wheeled Trike, which travels on a platform made up of inverted catenary curves. The length of the side of the square wheel is the same as the length of one of the curves, resulting in a smooth ride.

The two floors of the museum are filled with interactive exhibits dedicated to conveying the rich diversity of mathematics, and we had a busy afternoon.

Students experimented with different designs to discover the curve of fastest descent between two points on the Tracks of Galileo. In the Mathenaeum, students used a computer to design complicated 3D shapes.
Students experienced the self-replicating nature of fractals at Feedback Fractals and the Human Tree projection. In the area of the museum devoted to the Shapes of Space, students created intricate Zome constructions. Students enjoyed a variety of manipulative puzzles at the Enigma Café and explored colorful patterns at the Tessellation Station. Laser cross-sections of 3D shapes were visible at the Wall of Fire. The goal of the Twist and Roll activity is to match unusual shapes with their rolling path pattern. On the interactive Math Square, students created Voronoi diagrams and efficient paths.

Introduction to Knot Theory was the title of a classroom presentation where students learned about the math of knots and the related terminology. Students demonstrated knots with ropes, and their arms and hands and groups worked cooperatively to untangle themselves, a very fun-filled activity.

The trip was enjoyable, successful and rewarding for everyone involved!