Math Arguments

Problems, Questions, and Puzzles to spark discussion and argument in the maths classroom.

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Why 360?

Everyone knows that there are 360 degrees in a circle.

We can also take it as a given that people who did math back in the days of Babylon didn't mess around ... they must have had really good reasons for choosing that number. They were logical and just as smart as we are now, even if we sometimes don't admit that.

How many good reasons can you think of for 360° in a circle?

How many ridiculous reasons can you think of for 360° in a circle?

Should we change to another number for doohickeys in a circle?

What other mathematical aspects of this caught your attention? What do you wonder about the situation?

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Notice, Wonder
T.R.Milne
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Source: T.R.Milne

More Information:
Noticing and wondering is a tool to help students:
- Understand the story, the quantities, and the relationships in the problem.
- Understand what the problem is asking and what the answer will look like. Have some ideas to begin to solve the problem.
More Here at NCTM