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Problem Solving Strategies: Draw a Diagram​

I'm planning to build a rectangular garden with a fence on three sides and part of a 100-foot rock wall as the fourth side. I will place fence posts every 12 feet along the fence, including the two posts where the fence meets the rock wall. What is the fewest number of posts required to fence an area 36 feet by 60 feet?

When we encounter a problem that we don’t immediately know how to solve, it can sometimes be helpful to draw a diagram, which allows the visual parts of our brain get more involved in the problem-solving process. This can help us to discover relationships and connections that might not have been clear at first.

This is the first of four math workshops in the Problem Solving Strategies Series. Each workshop in the series introduces a helpful strategy for tackling unfamiliar problems, and offers participants the opportunity to explore mathematical puzzles that have been curated to highlight the theme strategy. Participants can experiment with using the theme strategy, discuss different approaches, and gain confidence with technique.

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Workshop Schedule

This workshop meets for four 60-minute remote (Zoom) ​sessions.

Please choose either the July workshop or the August workshop:

• July Workshop (5 / 6 seats available): Tuesday - Friday, July 6 - 9, 1:30 - 2:30 PM PST
• August Workshop (6 / 6 seats available): Monday - Thursday, August 2 - 5,  10:30 - 11:30 AM PST

​Cost $300

​We are happy to offer discounted pricing to families who enroll in multiple activities during Summer 2021. Please reach out using the contact form on this page for information.

Please also reach out if price is a barrier to your family's participation. Our hope is to make these experiences available to as many students as possible!

About Mathematics Workshop

Mathematics workshops focus on the joy of exploration and discovery. No specific mathematical experience is required. 

Workshop content will generally target middle- and high-school mathematics concepts, though the puzzles and problems we explore can scale up or down to meet a variety of challenge levels.

You are welcome to use the contact form on this page to reach out with questions about whether a certain math workshop is right for your student.

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