Education and demonstration – Mathematics – Arithmetic
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-13
2001-01-09
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Mathematics
Arithmetic
C434S175000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171111
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention and relates to educational devices and more particularly to educational devices for teaching mathematics to students.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For the teaching of mathematics, particularly to beginning students in the lower grades, a number of devices have been proposed to help those students visualize the mathematical activity being taught. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,973 is designed to aid in teaching of children to add and subtract. This device requires a teacher to place certain panels on the base of the unit after which the student can manipulate beads in response to the mathematical activity set up by the teacher.
In yet another device, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,744, a spaced series of U shaped rods are disposed on a base. The rods carry slidable counting beads on all but two of the rods. These two rods are provided with sign beads for indicating the mathematical function being performed. Manipulation of the beads allows students to visualize subtraction, addition, multiplication and division by seeing the number of beads on the rods involved in the mathematical operation.
These devices, although suitable for simple mathematical functions, are limited in their representations of mathematical functions. For example, they're unable to visually represent the result of the mathematical manipulation of two numbers unless the beads are first arranged by the instructor. Indeed, unless the instructor arranges the proper number of beads, the student is may not accurately arrive at and see the results of the mathematical functions being demonstrated. In addition, these devices are not sophisticated enough to demonstrate number theory and relationships.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The device of the present invention is a teaching device which serves both to illustrate number theory and mathematical functions and which also is able to calculate the correct response without the necessity of the instructor first manipulating the device to illustrate the proper result. Thus, the student is able to see the effect of various mathematical procedures and is also able to carry out simple calculations.
In accordance with the invention the device comprises a frame consisting of the plurality of spaced parallel rods which are secured at their ends to transverse members. The rods carry slidable members, such as beads, which are arranged to define an triangle having the same number members on each side. The rods are spaced apart and the members are sized so that sliding movement of one bead will contact a bead located in the next adjacent rod and cause it to also slide. The contact and sliding of the members is repeated so that depending upon the location of selected base bead being manipulated, some or all of the members in the triangle are moved simultaneously. Selection and manipulation of the base bead maybe repeated with a second selected bead and the resulting array of members visually demonstrates the results of the mathematical principle applied to the triangle. The resulting array also provides the student the correct answer in response to the query.
By arranging the members as an equilateral triangle, the device of the invention illustrates the mathematical principles of observed and propounded by Pythagorus. The device is able to demonstrate visually many Pythagorean theorems concerning number theory and number relationships. The device of the invention is distinguished from the abacus in that the members of the abacus slide independently of one another whereas it in the present device the members normally do not slide independently but in association with members on adjacent rods as will more clearly demonstrated below in connection with the Figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 345445 (1886-07-01), Pelletier
patent: 690664 (1902-01-01), Proctor
patent: 1240556 (1917-09-01), Fox
patent: 3811205 (1974-05-01), Pitzler
patent: 4008715 (1977-02-01), Brodbeck
patent: 4295832 (1981-10-01), Karell
patent: 4884973 (1989-12-01), Pak
patent: 4993952 (1991-02-01), Yeh
patent: 5205747 (1993-04-01), Tan
patent: 5772615 (1998-06-01), Elder et al.
Rimell Sam
Vanderburgh John E.
LandOfFree
Educational device for illustrating mathematical relationships does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Educational device for illustrating mathematical relationships, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Educational device for illustrating mathematical relationships will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2515290