How High Is the Water Tower?

Abstract

When are we ever going to need this math?” This question, frequently heard in high school mathematics courses, elicits an interesting, and perhaps unique, response from teachers at one California high school. To experience an indepth practical application of mathematics, the trigonometry and precalculus classes meet at the school's water tower and use some of the mathematics learned in classrooms. Students measure the height of the tower's topmost point, which is not only inaccessible but also invisible from the ground. In the process, they engage in some good teamwork, see how their mathematics courses fit together to facilitate a task that no one course can do alone, observe how mathematics can work around physical obstacles, use their scientific calculators for chained and multistage calculations, and gain a little more appreciation for the physical facilities of their school. Students also see that mathematical analysis can be easier and more accurate than direct measurement or scale drawings. And every time they see the water tower―which is hard to miss—they remember that their mathematics really is good for something. As a special benefit, several interested students help prepare the activity and coach their peers.