Problem:  Melissa earns money by making and selling quilted designs to hang on the wall.  She usually makes these pieces in the shape of a square measuring 1 foot on each side.  Yesterday, someone called and asked Melissa to make a square quilt that would be 4 times the size she usually makes.  If she creates a design that is 4 feet long and 4 feet wide, will it be what the customer asked for?  Explain your thinking.

Math Topic/Concept:  Area and dimensions

Materials:  paper, pencil, ruler

Classroom Use: (Introductory/Developmental/Evaluation)

Grade:  4th

Grade Cluster: (EarlyElem/LateElem/MS-Jr.High/EarlyHS/LateHS)

Illinois Goal:  6, 7, 9

Standard: 6.D2,  7.C.2a,  9. A. 2b

Applied? (1-4):  2

Source:  Explain It  (3 – 4 grade) by Creative Publications – ISBN 0-7622-1597-6

Answer:  No – It should be 2 feet long and 2 feet wide.

Strategies Listed:  drawing or model

Solution:  I drew a square to show the size of the quilts Melissa usually makes.  It was 1
     foot on each side.  Four times as big should be 4 squares.  To make a square
     that was 4 feet long and 4 feet wide, I would have to draw 16 squares, so this is
     not what the person wants.

Extensions or related problems*:  If you double the length and the width, do you
double the area?  If it does not double the area, what actually does happen?

Intended rubric or assessment method: ISAT rubric

Write-up submitted by:  Donna Spears

James R. Olsen, Western Illinois University
E-mail: jr-olsen@wiu.edu
updated June 27, 2001