Make Math and Science Interactive

This activity has students measuring similar triangles to help them understand the meaning of the tangent, sine and cosine ratios. They measure the triangles and find the ratios, then compare to others in the class. Works well with groups of three, with students assigned one trig ratio each. Uses degrees, not radians. Good for basic trigonometry, junior high. I use it in grade 10 as I find they get there and still don't understand what "tan" means or does. Includes a handout for students to

Has students recognize patterns when multiplying binomials to determine how we could factor them.