Worksheet Grade Levels 7 - 9 (Basic Math to Algebra 1)

Abbott and Costello: In the Navy  (1941 – Universal Studios)
STORY: Comedians, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, have joined the Navy.  Lou is attempting to make seven batches of thirteen donuts each for the Naval officers.  He cooks 28 donuts, claiming that 7 x 13 = 28.  Lou shows in three different ways that his mathematics is correct.
DIRECTIONS to STUDENTS: Watch carefully for Lou's mathematical techniques.
CLIP: The clip begins with Bud, Lou and Dizzy examining a tray of freshly made donuts. Lou explains the situation and shows that 7 x 13 = 28. The clip ends when Lou hangs his hat on an imaginary hook he draws on the chalkboard.
On-line clip at: http://www.math.harvard.edu/~knill/mathmovies/
On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WMi5TUJDso
MathBits’ Worksheet:   A “what went wrong?” scenario; examinations of division,
     multiplication and addition; algebraic investigations to disprove Lou’s conjectures.
 

Worksheet Grade Levels 7 - 9 (Basic Math to Algebra 1)

Ma & Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (1951 – Universal Studios)
STORY: Ma and Pa Kettle display their skills with finances by showing that 25 divided by 5 is 14. (same scenario as the Abbott and Costello routine).
CLIP: The clip begins when Billy states that 75% of the money will go to Ma and Pa with the remaining 25% to be divided among 5 others. When Billy explains that each of the 5 individuals will receive 5%, Pa states that it is actually 14% and shows the calculations. The clip ends with a frustrated look on Billy's face.
On-line clip at Google: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7106559846794044495
Many on-line excerpts available -- search Google for “Ma and Pa Kettle Math”
(no additional worksheet provided since the routine is the same as Abbott and Costello)

Worksheet Grade Levels 8 - 10
(PreAlgebra to Geometry)

Alice in Wonderland (1999 – Lions Gate Studio – made for TV)
STORY: This is a three-hour made for TV special about Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and contains many of the mathematical antics of its author.  A discussion at the Mad Hatter's tea party focuses on statements and converses.
CLIP: The clip starts at the Mad Hatter's tea party table. The Mad Hatter (Martin Short) is sitting at the head of the table and asks "Why is a raven like a writing desk?". A series of statements and their converses are discussed. The clip ends when the dormouse falls back to sleep after his contribution to the discussion.
DIRECTIONS to STUDENTS: Listen carefully! You may be easily distracted by the activity at the dining table, but focus on the discussion. Listen for statements and converses.
On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vwi9Yn2aF4&feature
=PlayList&p=CECBBEDF0C1D281B&index=2
MathBits’ Worksheet:  Working with inverse, converse, contrapositive and their truth values. Also an investigation of truth values on the graphing calculator.

 

Worksheet Grade Levels 7 - 10
(Basic Math to
Geometry)

Contact (1997 – Warner Home Video)
STORY: Contact, based on the novel by astronomer Carl Sagan, is the story of a free thinking radio astronomer who discovers an intelligent signal broadcast from deep space. Mathematics
is seen as the means of communication with an alien civilization (through prime numbers).
CLIP: The clip starts when Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) and her crew hear a signal of radio transmissions which are patterning prime numbers. The clip ends when Ellie is asked who should be informed, and she replies "everyone".
DIRECTIONS and INFO for STUDENTS: Scientists have actually hypothesized that should we receive a signal from intelligent life it will be in the language of mathematics. Project META at Harvard University, which searches for alien signals, listens for the occurrence of prime numbers (according to astrophysicists Cocconi and Morrison). Listen for the references to prime numbers as you see this clip.
MathBits’ Worksheet: Sieve of Eratosthenes, Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, Twin Primes, Germain Primes, Relatively Prime, E-commerce encryption using primes.  Graphing calculator used for computations and investigations.

 

 

Numb3rs  (TV Series)
FBI Agent Don Eppes and his brother, Charlie Eppes, (a brilliant mathematician) team up to solve crimes with the assistance of mathematics.  Based upon true cases.

DVD - The Complete First Season (2005 – Paramount Home Video)

DVD - The Complete Second Season (2006 – Paramount Home Video)

At Amazon.com - download individual episodes for $1.99

Worksheet Grade Levels 10 - 11
(Geometry to
Algebra 2)

Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959 – Buena Vista Home Video)
STORY: Disney’s Donald Duck has a series of adventures dealing with mathematics, including discoveries about the Golden Ratio.
CLIP: The clip starts with Donald shaking hands with Pythagoras. The Golden Ratio and the Golden Section are then explained. The clip ends with Donald trying to squeeze himself into a Golden Rectangle to show that his body has ideal proportions.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Watch for references to the Golden Rectangle, Golden Section, Golden Ratio.
On-line clip at YouTube (The entire video in three parts):
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_ssR7M5Px0
Part 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_tyRPerr6c (Golden Ratio is here)
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QifFucusbR4
MathBits’ Worksheet:  Constructing a golden rectangle; investigating the golden rectangle's connection to quadratics using algebra and the graphing calculator; and investigating the golden rectangle and the Pythagorean theorem.
 

Worksheet Grade Levels 11-12
(Algebra 2 to
PreCalculus)

I Love Lucy: Episode 39: “Job Switching“ or “The Candy Factory” (1952 – Paramount Studios)
STORY: The husbands, Ricky and Fred, think that doing housework is much easier than earning money. So, the boys stay at home and do the housework while Lucy and Ethel take a job at a candy factory. Comedic situations arrise as candies progress down a conveyor belt. 
CLIP: The clip starts with Lucy and Ethel standing in front of a conveyor belt in a candy factory lamenting that they have been unsuccessful working in other departments. The ladies then attempt to wrap the candies as they progress down the belt. The clip ends with the work administrator instructing that the belt be increased in speed.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Watch the candy as it progresses down the conveyor belt.
On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wp3m1vg06Q
MathBits’ Worksheet:   Dealing with patterns and sequences, average daily inventory.  Graphing calculator used for investigative analysis.

 

Worksheet Grade Levels 11 - 12
(Algebra 2 to
PreCalculus)

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace
(1999 – 20th Century Fox)
STORY: This is the first episode of the adventures of young Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader).
The famous pod race at Mos Espa Arena circuit weaves through a flat-topped mountain called Ben’s Mesa.  Here is where young Anakin Skywalker wins the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace. 
CLIP: The clip begins at the start of the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace as young Anakin encounters difficulties with his engine. The ensues. The clip ends after 2 or 3 minutes of the race.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Enjoy the race scenes.
On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUsltuNO6l8
MathBits’ Worksheet:  The map of the pod race circuit and locations along the track are the focus of this mathematical investigation. Law of sines, Law of cosines.  Graphing calculator used for computation and investigation.

 

Worksheet 1 Grades 11 - 12
(Algebra 2 to
PreCalculus)

Worksheet 2 Grades 6 - 9
(Basic Math to Algebra 1)

Star Trek -The Original Series, Vol. 21, Episodes 42:
The Trouble With Tribbles  (1966 – Paramount Studios)
STORY: Tribbles are cute, furry little creatures in the Star Trek world. Being Hermaphrodites (both male and female), a tribble can produce a litter of 10 babies every 12 hours, assuming none die. One tribble is trapped in the grain hold of the Starship Enterprise for 3 days.  Spock proclaims that there are now 1,771,561 tribbles.
CLIP: The clip starts with Captain Kirk (William Shatner) standing under the grain hold door with tribbles falling on his head. An exchange of information ensures. The clip ends with Mr. Spock explaining how many tribbles are in the grain hold.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Listen to Spock's statement about the number of tribbles. Is Spock mathematically correct?
On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87gH4RTeBdw
MathBits’ Worksheet 1:   Population growth, exponential regressions examined on the graphing calculator.
MathBits’ Worksheet 2:   Measurement and volume.  Graphing calculator used for computation and investigation.

 

Worksheet Grade Level 11 - 12
(Algebra 2 to
PreCalculus)

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (1995 – Walt Disney Video)
STORY: This is a 1917 tale of a small village in Wales, that prides itself on being the location of the "first mountain in Wales". Two English cartographers arrive, measure the mountain, and deem it to be only a "hill". Refusing to lose yet one more thing during war time, the inhabitants heroically set out to increase the height of Ffynnon Garw to mountain status. While the name of the mountain is fictitious, the story is a true tale.
CLIP: The clip begins with the cartographers on the mountain explaining to the villagers how the mountain will be measured. The clip ends with the Reverend stating that the first mountain was measured by God.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Set the stage by introducing the story. Listen for the method of measuring the mountain.
Partial On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Ll1xaxGd4.
MathBits’ Worksheet:   Trigonometry, Law of Sines, Proportions in Similar Triangles.  Graphing calculator used for computation and investigation.

 

Worksheet Grade Levels 11 - 12
(Algebra 2 to PreCalculus)

I.Q. (1994 – Paramount Studios)
STORY: Albert Einstein comes to the aid of a young garage mechanic (who has fallen in love with Einstein’s mathematically brilliant niece), by helping him to pretend to be a great physicist.  
CLIP: The clip begins with Catherine Boyd (Meg Ryan) looking out a window at the rain as Ed Walters (Tim Robbins) tells her that her uncle expects them to dance. A discussion ensues regarding Zeno's paradox. The clip ends with Catherine remembering that she had a date with her fiance.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Listen for Zeno's Paradox.
MathBits’ Worksheet:   Zeno’s Paradox, Introduction to sum of infinite series as developed on the graphing calculator.

Worksheet Grade
Levels 10 - 12
(Geometry to PreCalculus)

The Matrix Revolutions (2003 – Warner Home Video)
STORY: Neo (Keanu Reeves) and the others try to save Zion, the last real-world city and the center of the human resistance. Neo's nemesis, Agent Smith, has learned how to replicate himself (transform) by taking over other organisms.
CLIP: Be aware of the number of Agent Smith's in the scene.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: The clip starts with a view of the back of Neo's head as he looks down a street lined with replicas of Agent Smith as the rain pours down. An altercaton ensues. The clip ends with a spiraling leap into the air in a confrontation with Agent Smith.
On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYmWSKv96tw.
MathBits’ Worksheet:  Transformations, glide reflections, composition of transformations, use of graphing calculator with transformations in addition to graph paper work.

Worksheet Grade Levels 7 - 11.
Basic Math to
Algebra 2.

Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995 – 20th Century Fox)
STORY: Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) and Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson) battle against a villain playing a game of “Simon Says.”  During a mad chase across the city solving riddles, our heroes find themselves in a park attempting to defuse a bomb.
CLIP: The clip starts with John and Zeus in the part opening a laptop. A riddle must be answered to defuse a bomb. The clip ends after the riddle is explained and discussed by the heroes. (If you want the students to solve teh riddle, stop before an answer is shown. Or come back to the answer after the students have had time to solve the riddle.)
WARNING: Be careful of the language used in this movie. Your clip may need editing.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Listen for the challenge and the conditions.
MathBits’ Worksheet:   Logical reasoning, volume.  Calculator used for computation.

 

Worksheet Grade Levels 10 - 12
(Geometry to
PreCalculus)

October Sky (1999 – Universal Studios)
STORY: The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son, who was inspired by the first
Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.  Homer struggles to earn a college scholarship so that he will not end up in the coal mines. Homer uses mathematics to prove that his rocket did not set a fire.   Homer Hickam became a NASA engineer.
CLIP: The clip starts with Homer, his teacher, and the principal in a classroom. Homer is trying to explain that one of his rockets did not start a nearby fire. His mathematical explanation follows. The clip ends when the principal discoveres that the fire was started by an aeronautical flare.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Listen for Homer's explanation of the flight of the rocket.
MathBits’ Worksheet:  Parabolas, quadratics equations, projectile motion.  Graphing calculator used to display graphical representations of situations and for investigation.

Worksheet Grade Levels 11 - 12
(Algebra 2 to PreCaclulus).

Proof (2005 Miramax Studios)
STORY: The daughter of a brilliant, but mentally disturbed, mathematician fears that she has inherited his insanity.  While the movie is a rather somber episode, it has a humorous reference to a musical score of the imaginary i.
CLIP 1: The first clip starts with Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal) explaining to Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) that a group of mathematicians will be performing at a local celebration. He describes one of their musical pieces as "i", the imaginary number. The first clip ends with Hal explaining that the band is not very good.
CLIP 2: The second clip starts with an audience listening to the band. The band then plays their musical piece "i". The clip ends after the audience's reaction to this piece.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Listen for references to a band of mathematicians and their creative musical works.
MathBits’ Worksheet:  This is a cut-up grid puzzle working with the imaginary i.  Pieces are matched so equivalent expressions are touching. Graphing calculator used for computation.

 

Worksheet Grade Levels 6 - 9
(Basic Math to Algebra 1)

Castaway (2000 – 20th Century Fox)
STORY: Chuck Nolan, a FedEx engineer, struggles to survive on an isolated tropical island after a plane crash in the Pacific.  In assessing the seriousness of the situation, he computes the size of the prospective search area. He laments to his inanimate companion, Wilson (a volleyball), that based upon his mathematical calculations they may never be found.
CLIP: The clip starts with Chuck (Tom Hanks) talking to volleyball, Wilson, about the size of their search and rescue area. Chuck draws a diagram on the cave wall. The clip ends with Chuck telling Wilson that they may never be found.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Watch and listen for Chuck's computations.
Partial On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBsDbKRBjkM
MathBits’ Worksheet:   Area and circumference of a circle, airplane distances.  Calculator used for computation.

 

Worksheet Grade 12 (Calculus)

Stand and Deliver (1988 Warner Home Video)
STORY: Teacher Jaime Escalante encourages his Hispanic students to take the Advanced Place Calculus test.  He believes that mathematics will be his students only way to escape the Barrio. The movie portrays the students' struggles to succeed and their courage and determination when asked to re-take the exam. The College Board feels that the students cheated since many answered one question in the same manner. A true inspirational story.
CLIP: The clip starts with the students sitting for a re-take of the AB section of the Advanced Placement Calculus Examination. Questions and student responses are shown. The clip ends after several actual questions are shown.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Watch for actual AP Calculus problems and solutions.
MathBits’ Worksheet:  Getting ready for the AP Calculus Exam, word problem on
applied derivatives.  Graphing calculator used for computation and analysis.

Note:  The actual 1982 AP Calculus question that caused the controversy regarding Escalante's students cannot be posted on the internet. The question used on the worksheet is similar in nature to the actual question.

 

Worksheet Grade Levels 10 - 11
(Geometry to Algebra 2)

The Wizard of Oz (1939 – Warner Home Video)
STORY: Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) is swept away to the magical land of Oz in a tornado and embarks on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return home. Accompanying her on this journey are a scarecrow (looking for a brain), a tin man (looking for a heart), and a lion (looking for courage).
CLIP: The clip starts with the Wizard bestowing a degree of "thinkology" upon the scarecrow. The clips ends with the scarecrow reciting a theorem regarding the sides of an isosceles triangle.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Listen for the mathematical statement made by the scarecrow.
On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUCZXn9RZ9s
MathBits’ Worksheet:  Dealing with triangles, triangle inequalities, Pythagorean
Theorem, indirect algebraic proof.  Graphing calculator used for computation.

Note:  See Mathematics Teacher, February, 1987, pgs. 100-101 for an interesting article entitled "Two Views of Oz" by John Pancari and John Pace regarding the scarecrow's theorem.

Worksheet Grade Levels 6 - 12
(Basic Math to PreCalculus)

Worksheet Grade Levels 6 - 9
(Basic Math to Algebra 1)

Star Trek -The Original Series, Episodes 20:
Court Martial  (1966 – Paramount Studios)
STORY: Captain Kirk (William Shatner) attempts to clear himself of murder by proving that the victim is still alive and hiding onboard the Enterprise. The sound of all of the heartbeats on the ship are amplified and then eliminated one by one, leaving only the victim's heartbeat. The captain makes a math blooper as he describes the amplification as increasing the sound by a power of 1 to the 4th power.
CLIP: The clip starts with Kirk standing on the bridge of the Enterprise ordering that heartbeats be eliminated from a sound program. The clip ends when Kirk explains that the amplification increases the sound by a power of 1 to the 4th power.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Listen for Captain Kirk's references to the amplification of the sound. Watch the reaction of the actors seated at the consoles.
MathBits' Worksheet: Explanation of the blooper, and work with exponents.

Worksheet Grade Levels 9 - 10
(Algebra 1 to Geometry)

Star Trek The Next Generation, Season 6, Episodes 26:
Descent, Part 1 (1993 – Paramount Studios)
STORY: Android Commander Data has a poker game on the holodeck with three famous scientists: Stephen Hawking, Issac Newton and Albert Einstein. This clip is being used to introduce the concept of holodecks. 3-D holodecks are now actually being developed by engineers as seen by the NASA Virtual Iron Bird, Kapor and Bossut's Second Life and the Coherent Project's HoloVizio.
CLIP: The clip starts with Data playing cards with Hawking, Newton and Einstein. Play continues. The clip ends when Data is hailed to return to his duties aboard the starship and the holodeck collapses the poker game illusion.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Try to determine with whom Data is playing cards. Listen for the references to Einstein's mathematical abilities. Observe the end of the scene as the holodeck collapses the illusion of the poker game.
On-line clip at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg8_cKxJZJY
MathBits’ Worksheet:  Exploring holodeck situations in coordinate geometry.

Worksheet Grade Levels 6 - 12.
Page 1: Basic Math to Algebra 1
Page 1 and 2:
Algebra 2 to PreCalculus

Galaxy Quest
(1979 – Paramount Studios)
STORY: Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen) and his fellow actors starred in a Star Trek- like TV show that was cancelled. Thinking the exploits of the show to be real historical documents, aliens contact Jason for help in overcoming a deadly predator. The movie is a comic depiction of the actors' exploits aboard a spaceship built by the aliens to resemble the ship described on the TV show.
CLIP: The clip begins with Jason and Gwen (Sigourney Weaver) facing a hallway of deadly chompers while a young fan gives them the proper sequence for traversing this obstacle. The clip ends with Gwen stating that the person that wrote that scence should die.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Watch the pattern of the chompers.
MathBits’ Worksheet TI-83+/84+:
MathBits' Worksheet TI-Nspire:  Examing sequences including graphing calculator work. This is a two-page worksheet. For younger students, use only the first page.

Star Wars (Episode IV - A New Hope)
(1977 – LucasFilms)
STORY: Han Solo (Harrison Ford) launches the Millinneum Falcon into light speed as his skeptical passengers hope that his claims of the ship's capabilities are true.
CLIP: The clip starts with Han, R2D2, C3PO, Obi-Wan, Chewbacca and Luke boarding the Millinneum Falcom. Luke remarks "What a piece of junk!". The clips ends when the ship eventually goes to light speed.
DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Enjoy the clip.
MathBits’ Worksheet:  The worksheet is based upon the premise that as the ship went to light speed it was invaded by a series of hull bugs called Wygon Clitchers. Come to the aid of the Millinneum Falcon with the use of basic trigonometry.

Packaged for sale on the CD of the "Glass Bottom Boat".

Worksheet Grade 10 Geometry

DIRECTIONS for STUDENTS: Watch and enjoy.
On-Line Copy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGh97__-uLA
MathBits’ Worksheet:  The worksheet is based upon students viewing the entire 10 minute film. Questions pertain to slope, equations of lines, circumference, segment length, angles of regular polygons, and sides of a parallelepiped.
Purchase: This short animated film is packaged for sale as an "added feature" on the CD of an old Doris Day movie called "The Glass Bottom Boat" (1966).