Key Stage 3

Percentages and Fractions with Jenga Blocks (Investigation)

Objectives

Work with a partner or small group for this investigation.

Use the measuring tape to measure the length, width, and height of one single wooden block. Record these measurements as fractions.
Make a guess as to how tall you think the wooden tower will be and how wide it will be. Be sure that your answers are in the form of a fraction or a mixed number.
Build the wooden tower.
Measure the height and width of the tower using the measuring tape.

How close was your guess to the actual height of the tower?
How close was your guess to the actual width of the tower?
Begin taking turns removing blocks from different parts of the tower and placing them on top of the tower.
After 5 blocks have been placed on the top of the tower determine how the height of the tower has changed and write your answer in terms of a mixed number or fraction. Do not re-measure the tower.
Continue taking turns removing blocks from the tower and adding them to the top. After doing this a few times again determine how the height of the tower has changed and write your answer in terms of a mixed number or fraction. Do not re-measure the tower.
How high would the tower be if you increased the original height of the tower by 20%? Is it possible for the tower to reach this height and still stand? Explain your answer.
How high would the tower be if you increased the original height of the tower by 40%? Is it possible for the tower to reach this height and still stand? Explain.
Compare and contrast you answers for numbers 6 and 7 as well as the methods you used to find those answers with another group.
If you said that the tower can be built up to 20% its original height, build it. Were you right?
If you said that the tower can be built up to 40% its original height, build it. Were you right?