Lesson #77


Quote of the Day:
"Starting in the seventeenth century, the general theory of  
  extreme values -- maxima and minima -- has become one of 
  the systematic integrating principles of science."
     -- Richard Courant and Herbert Robbins

Objectives:
The student will learn to solve applied maximum minimum  
  problems.

1. Collect Homework.

2. Distribute Rulers, Protractors, and Mini golf 
   worksheets.

   Have students experiment to find the point that yields
   the minimum distance - this is also the point at which 
   the ball would rebound and go in the hole.

   Show geometric proof.  Have students set up the calculus 
   proof.

         Worksheet on Billiards and Mini Golf          

3. Example:
      Problem #2-2 from the December 3, 1991 Virginia Math 
      League Contest 
      
      Given: The sum of the lengths of the 2 legs of a 
             right triangle is 20 inches.  What is the 
             smallest possible length of the hypotenuse of 
             this triangle?

             Solution:
                 Let x = length of one leg.
                 Then 20 - x = the length of other leg.
                 Let c = length of hypotenuse.

                  
 
4. Video on Billiards (ESPN)

5. Assignment:
   Worksheet on Billiards and Mini Golf 
   Design your own Mini Golf hole on Graph Paper
    p. 318 (1, 3, 5, 24, 25)
    Worksheet on the Longest Home Run
Lesson #77 Applied Maximum Minimum Problems -- Mini Golf

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