Spark PILOT 2017 [Kumon Oak Bay Victoria] Spark PILOT 2017 [Kumon Oak Bay Victoria] | Page 21

S PA R K M a g a z i n e | P I L O T 2 0 1 7
21
A WORLD OF NUMBERS
Kevan Gentle, Toronto Central Field Team
Learning attitude, a facet of the “just-right” level
of study for any Kumon student, brings with it a
unique and powerful tool: curiosity. In the Kumon
Math Program we concentrate on the fundamentals
and the mechanics, so many students, upon mastering
the learning focus, fi nd themselves hungry to learn
more about the topic beyond the aims of the level.
Instructors also have a profound opportunity to
plant the seed of curiosity in their students and
foster a deeper understanding of the content. Not
only does this satisfy the common question “Why
am I learning this?” but it also instills the idea that
advanced study can lead to a greater understanding
of the world around us, preparation for future career
and academic paths, and above all an even greater
curiosity that applies to all aspects of life. It could be
interesting to research the level as a student begins
in order to cultivate that curiosity and generate
ongoing excitement about higher-level math!
Let’s take a look at a few of the more advanced
concepts in the math program, and how they relate
to the world around us.
APPLICATIONS IN THE MATH PROGRAM
KUM O N ST U DI E S
28
to improve the mind, we ought
“ In less order
to learn, than to contemplate.
”
Refer to L 180a, where we solve the maximum
height using this equation.
—René Descartes
Although equations related to the force of gravity
are somewhat rare in the Kumon Program, the link
between a baseball being struck and the arc of a
negative parabola is an idea to which most students
can relate.
Quadratic Functions (Levels I- L)
What do baseball, bungee jumping, and bobsled
all have in common? Gravity. The vast majority of
sports and athletic endeavours relate extensively to
gravity. Derived from Sir Isaac Newton’s second law
(F= ma), a gravitational relationship is best
described quadratically by a basic formula:
a = – 4.9t 2 + vt + h, where a is altitude, v is
velocity, t is time, and h is starting height. The value
of 4.9 is exactly half of the gravitational constant, g,
rounded off to 9.8m/s 2 .
VOICES
SUMMER 2014
Trigonometry (Levels M, N, O)
Did you know that Mount Everest, the highest
point on Earth, is rising by 1/3 of an inch every
year? How does one measure the highest point on
Earth? Measuring tape only goes so far. This type of
measurement is typically done using trigonometry.
A surveyor will use an instrument called a sextant
to calculate the angle of a skyscraper or mountain